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Water-Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 196 Series M, General Hydrographic Investigations, 21 



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

CHARLES D. WALCOTT, Director 



WATER SUPPLY 



OF 



NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA, ALASK. 



1906 



BY 



John C. Hoyt and Fred F. Henshaw 




GOVERNjv 



INGTON 

RINTT 

^7 



Glass 
Book 




:1±1M 



■^ 



Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2011 with funding from 
The Library of Congress 



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Water-Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 196 Series M, General Hydrographic Investigations, 21 

DKPAUT.MKNT OF TllK INTillMoU 

UNITED STATES (JEOLCXrlCAL Sl'RVEY 

CHARLES I). WAl.COTT. Dikectou 



WATER SUPPLY 






NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA, ALASKA 



1906 



BY 



eToHN C. HOYT AND FkED F. HeNSHAW 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT P R I N T I N G. A> F flfi E 
1907 



V 



APR 16 1907 
D. OF D. 



CONTENTS 



Pa?e. 

Introduction 5 

General description of area 7 

Conditions affecting water supply 8 

Measurements of flow 12 

Explanation of data and methods of work 12 

Nome River drainage basin 13 

General description 13 

Nome River above Miocene intake 14 

Buffalo Creek 15 

Dorothy Creek 16 

The Miocene ditch system IG 

General description 16 

Miocene ditch at Black Point 17 

Miocene ditch at the flume ■ 18 

Jett Creek ditch 19 

Grand Central ditch 19 

David Creek ditch 19 

Seepage measurements on Miocene ditch 20 

Campion ditch at Black Point 21 

Seward ditch 22 

Grand Central River drainage basin 23 

General description 23 

Grand Central River (North Fork) 24 

Grand Central River (West Fork) 26 

Crater Lake outlet 28 

Grand Central River below the forks 29 

Grand Central River below Nugget Creek 30 

Gold Run 31 

Thompson Creek 31 

- Nugget and Copper creeks. . .- 32 

Jett Creek : 33 

Morning Call Creek 33 

Salmon Lake 34 

Kruzgamepa (Pilgrim) River drainage basin below Salmon Lake 34 

General description 34 

Kruzgamepa River at outlet of Salmon Lake 35 

Crater Creek 37 

Iron Creek 37 

Imuruk basin drainage 38 

3 



4 CONTENTS. 

Measurements of flow — Continued. " Page. 

Sinuk River drainage basin 38 

General description 38 

Additional water supply for Nome 38 

Upper Sinuk River 40 

Windy Creek 40 

North Star Creek 41 

Stewart River ' 41 

Slate Creek 41 

Other Sinuk River drainage 42 

Cripple River drainage basin 42 

General description 42 

Cedric ditch '. 42 

Penny River drainage basin 43 

Snake River drainage basin . . 43 

Flanibeau and Eldorado rivers drainage basins 43 

Available water supply during 1906 44 

Water supply available for other years and localities 45 

Ditch and pipe lines 47 

Water-power possibilities 51 

Notes for investors 52 

Index 53 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Page. 

Plate I. Map showing location of measuring stations 6 

II. Typical topography, Seward Peninsula 8 

III. A, Tundra between beach and foothills; B, Miocene ditch, Glacier 

Creek 10 

IV. A, Price current meters; B, Measuring Grand Central River 14 

V. Rock cut around Cape Horn on Miocene ditch 16 

VI. A, Upper Grand Central River drainage; B, Mount Osborn 24 

Fig. 1. Diagram showing flow of Nome River above Miocene intake and of 

Grand Central River below the forks 11 



WATER SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWAPI) 
PENINSULA, ALASKA, 1906. 



By eloHN C. HoYT and Fred F. IIenshaw. 



i:n^troductiok. 

The successful operation of a placer deposit depends primarily upon 
the water supply. Data in regard to this supply are essential to its 
economical development, and lack of such information in regard to 
the flow of streams has often caused financial failure in mining as well 
as in other enterprises which depend on water. 

For a number of years the United States Geological Survey has 
made in the United States systematic measurements and studies of 
the water supply as one of the great resources of the country. These 
data are now available for all of the more important streams, and are 
extensively used by engineers and others in problems involving water 
power, city water supply, irrigation, and manufacturing. 

During the season of 1906 the Survey extended these investigations 
to Alaska in order that information in regard to water supply may be 
available for the economical development of the placer mines and 
water power of that territory. The field work was carried on from 
June 11 to October 3. The work necessary for the preparation of 
this report was done under the direction of the water-resources branch, 
but the expenses were paid from the appropriation for the investiga- 
tion of the mineral resources of Alaska. 

The limited funds available made it necessary to restrict the investi- 
gations to a comparatively limited area. Owing to the rich placers 
and extensive mining in the vicinity of Nome the work was confined 
to streams of that section, special attention being given to the more 
important of those that supply water for working the rich deposits 
back of Nome. The gaging stations were so located (see PI. I and the 
following list) that the measurements should show the water available 
in this important area. The additional supply below the points of 
measurement may in many cases have a local value, as has also the 
water of many of the smaller streams, but it was impossible to measure 
them on account of the limited funds. The data obtained, however, 
give a fair idea of the conditions of flow that may be expected at 
points in the vicinity where measurements were made (see pp. 44-47) 
and are also of value in determining the flow that may be expected in 
other parts of this region. 



6 WATER SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA. 

List of gaging stations.'^ 

1. Nome River above Miocene intake. 

2. Buffalo Creek. 

3. Dorothy Creek. 

4. Miocene ditch at Black Point. 

5. Miocene ditch at flume. 

6. Hobson Creek at Miocene ditch crossing. 

7. David Creek ditch intake. 

8. Seward ditch intake. 

9. Grand Central River (north fork) at elevation 750 feet. 

. 10. Grand Central River (north fork) at elevation 1,030 feet. 

11. Grand Central River (west fork) at elevation 860 feet. 

12. Grand Central River (west fork) at elevation 1,010 feet. 

13. Crater Lake outlet. 

14. Grand Central River below forks. 

15. Grand CeAtral River below Nugget Creek. 

16. Gold Run. 

17. Thompson Creek. 

18. Nugget Creek. 

19. Copper Creek. 

20. Jett Creek. 

21. Morning Call Creek. 

22. Kruzgamepa River at outlet of Salmon Lake. 

23. Crater Creek. 

24. Iron Creek below mouth of Canyon Creek. 

25. Iron (Dome) Creek. 

26. Eldorado Creek. 

27. Discovery Creek. 

28. Canyon Creek. 

29. Sinuk River. 

30. Windy Creek. 

31. North Star Creek. 

32. Stewart River. 

33. Slate Creek. 

34. Josie Creek. • 

35. Irene Creek. 

36. Jessie Creek. 

37. Upper Oregon Creek. 

38. Slate Creek. 

39. Aurora Creek. 

40. Penny River at elevation 420 feet. 

41. Penny River at elevation 120 feet. 

42. Eldorado River. 

43. Fall Creek. 

44. Glacier Creek. 

45. Snow Gulch. 

The hearty cooperation of the mining and other interests in the 
vicinity of Nome greatly facihtated the work. In this connection 
special acknowledgment is made to the officers and employees of the 
Miocene Ditch Company, Wild Goose Mining and Trading Company, 

o Number refers to PI. I. 



. GEOLOGICAL SURVE 



PAPER NO. 196 PL. 




SHOWING LOCATION OF MEASURING STATIONS. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION". t 

Cedric Ditch Company, Pioneer Mining Company, Gold Beach Devel- 
opment Company, and the United Ditch Company; to W. L. Leland, of 
the Three Friends Mining Company; to J. E. Styers, superintendent 
of the National Wood Pipe Company; and to Arthur Gibson, George 
Ashley, William E. Morris, J. Potter Whittren, and George M. Ash- 
ford, civil and mining engineers, Nome. 

ge:n^eral. description^ of area. 

The region covered by this investigation is, in a general way, 15 to 
20 miles wide and stretches 40 miles inland from the town of Nome, 
which is situated on the southern coast of the Seward Peninsula. 
While most of the measurements were made about 20 to 25 miles 
from the coast, at points where the altitude is sufhciently high to 
make the water available for mining high-level placers, some trips 
were also made into the adjacent regions to the east and west. 

The region embraces three types of topography, which, from south 
to north, are (1) a coastal plain, (2) an upland, and (3) a mountain 
mass. 

Bordering the coast line between Cape Nome and Cape Rodney is 
an area of low relief, which stretches back to the foothills with a 
width of from 2 to 5 miles. This lowland, known as the Nome tundra, 
is made up in general of wet moss-covered ground, rising with a gentle 
slope to an elevation of between 200 and 300 feet at the southern 
margin of the upland. 

The ridges that constitute the upland trend in a general way north 
and south, rising from about 700 feet near the coast to 2,000 feet 30 
miles inland. These ridges are separated by the broad U-shaped 
valleys of the larger drainage courses. Thirty miles from the coast 
the ridges are united by an east-west ridge, which presents a steep 
escarpment toward a broad depression to the north. This depression 
separates the upland from the Kigluaik Mountains. 

The east-west ridge is broken by broad low gaps, a feature of great 
importance to the engineer who contemplates tapping the water 
resources of the Kigluaik Mountains. North of the depression the 
Kigluaik Mountains, locally known as the Sawtooth Range, rise 
abruptl}^, constituting a rugged east-west mass, sharply dissected, 
with serrated crest line. As these mountains have been the center of 
local glaciation in recent times, their valleys are characterized by 
cirques, which form important sources of water for the district. 

Most of the area here considered drains southward to Bering Sea 
through Nome and Snake rivers, whose sources lie close to the ridge 
which forms the northern boundary of the upland. Besides these, a 
part of the waters of the upland also flow southward to Bering Sea 
through Eldorado, Flambeau, Cripple, and Penny rivers. The valleys 
of all of these are of about the same type — broad and deep in the 



8 WATER SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA. 

upland, with gentle slopes for 300 to 600 feet, then steeper walled to 
crest lines, which vary from 800 to 1,500 feet in altitude. Their floors 
are usually covered with gravels. Some of the smaller tributaries 
occupy sharply incised trenches and have but a thin coating of gravel 
on their rock floors. 

The east and west depression which separates the upland from the 
mountains to the north is drained in part by streams flowing west to 
Sinuk River, which empties into Bering Sea, and in part by streams 
flowing east to Kruzgamepa River, which discharges into Imuruk 
Basin. The streams draining the southern slope of the Kigluaik 
Mountains are all tributary to one or the other of the two systems. 
Many of them head in glacial cirques and flow through steep-walled 
rock-bound valleys, and all have torrential courses. 

The general character of all the drainage areas is the same (see 
PI. II). The streams have little slope, except in their extreme upper 
portions, and spread over wide gravelly beds, in which they often 
divide into several channels or disappear in the gravel. The channels 
are also subject to considerable shifting during floods. For from 1,000 
to 3,000 feet on either side of this gravelly'bed extend level or gentle- 
sloping bottom lands, from which the hills rise quite abruptly. The 
drainage basins are from 4 to 12 miles wide. The tributary streams 
are in most cases short and flow in narrow ravines having steep 
sides. Their slope is great, and in many cases they are made up of a 
series of rapids, waterfalls, and pools. 

Practically the whole country to an elevation of 1,000 feet is cov- 
ered with a thick turf, commonly known as ''tundra" (see PL III, A). 
On this in the summer there is a rank growth of grass dotted with wild 
flowers of many varieties, and in some areas there is considerable 
moss. There are no trees with the exception of occasional patches of 
scrub willow and alder, which in the absence of better fuel can be used 
for firewood. Much of the ground within 2 feet of the surface remains 
frozen throughout the year. The soil in the lowlands is mostly gravel, 
overlain with muck, and often contains a large per cent of water, 
which, when it thaws out in the summer time, makes the muck very 
soft. Some considerable areas are underlain by clear ice. The hills 
are composed largely of schist and limestone rock, mantled with loose 
slide and gravel. Thawing often causes serious slides. 

CONDITIONS AFFECTING WATER SUPPLY. 

Three sources of water supply contribute to the run-off of the 
Seward Peninsula: (1) Summer rains; (2) melting of accumulated 
snow; (3) ground water originating mostly from melting ice. 

Of the rainfall there is but little direct data, as few rainfall records 
were kept in this section until the present year, when four rainfall 
stations were established in connection with the hydrographic studies. 



CONDITIONS AFFECTING WATER SUPPLY. y 

The present year was one of drought : therefore the records can not be 
taken as a mean. 

The four rain gages were located at Nome, at Salmon Lake, at Claim 
No. 15 Ophir Creek, and at Deering. The gage at Nome was read by 
Mr. Arthur Gibson. It was located on the roof of a house, about 20 
feet above the ground and about 40 feet above sea level. The gage at 
Salmon Lake was placed on the ground at an elevation of about 450 
feet above sea level and was read by Mr. John P. Samuelson. The 
location of the gage at No. 15 Ophir is not known. No records were 
obtained from Deering. 

During the month of June there w^as only a trace of rain on one day 
at Nome, and on three days at Salmon Lake. During the present 
season it was also noted that the country is subject to local showers. 

The only previous record known to have been kept at Nome was 
made in 1900, when the precipitation was 0.60 of an inch from August 
13 to 31 and 7 inches in September. 

The following data, compiled from observations b}" members of the 
Geological Survey and from other sources, throw some light on the 
general weather conditions of Seward Peninsula for the last eight 
years : 

1899. July, 4 rainy days; August. 14 rainy days; September, 14 rainy days; recorded 

at Teller. 

1900. June to July, inclusive, warm and dry. tundra fires common; August to end of 

September, rain. 

1901. June to August, inclusive, cold and foggy with some rain; September to Octo- 

ber, inclusive, usually clear and cold with one or two hard rains of few days' 
duration. 

1902. June, dry; July, 10 rainy days; August. 6 rainy days; September. 3 rainy days; 

recorded at Teller. 

1903. Summer warm; little rain, but considerable fog. 

1904. June, dry; rainy days as follows: 10 in July, 10 in August, 10 in September; 

temperature moderate. 

1905. Very wet and cold the whole season. 

1906. Very warm and dry; tundra fires common; temperature reached as high as 85°. 

The following tables give the mean monthly and the daily precipi- 
tation at the various stations during 1906: 

Monthly rainfall, in inches, m Nome region. June to September, 1906. 



Station. 



June. 



Nome Trace. 

Salmon Lake Trace. 

Ophir Trace. 



Julv. 



August. 



Septem- 
ber. 



2.38 
4.92 
3.57 



2.50 
3.33 
1.91 j 

! 



1.02 
3.26 



q.^ , Total, 
Junl' o J""; t« 
August, i Sep^tem- 



4.88 
8.25 
5.48 



5.90 
11.51 



a No record. 



10 WATER SUPPLY OF ISTOME EEGIOTT, SEWARD PENINSULA. 

Daily rainfall, in inches, at stations near Nome, 1906. 





July. 


August. 


September. 




Nome. 


Salmon 
Lake. 


Ophir. 


Nome. 


Salmon 
Lake. 


Ophir. 


Nome. 


Salmon 
Lake. 


1 
















14 


2 












Trace. 


0.04 




3 




0.12 
.35 
.35 
.10 
.17 

2.32 
.31 
.25 










4 








0.17 
.07 
.23 

.28 


0.01 
.05 
.03 






5 




6.02' 

.23 

1.30 

.19 


0.07 






6 








7 


a 0.52 
.37 
.92 
.14 


b .41 






8 






.01 


9 


Trace. 


.29 


.08 
.12 
.01 






10 






11 


.85 
.01 
.02 
.01 
.02 
.02 










12 


.04 






.10 






13 






.12 
.01 




14 




.35 








03 


15 ... 












16 
















17 - . . . 








.10 




.14 
.16 
.23 

.28 
.04 


01 


18 






.01 






28 


19 










.31 
.31 


1 06 


20 










.57 


.99 


21 




.25 


.01 
.01 
.60 
.25 
.01 


.80 


.55 


22 








.16 


23 


.08 
.27 
.04 




.22 


.50 


.22 




.03 


24 


.35 






25 


.04 
.37 
.30 
.14 
.15 


.01 

.78 
.23 


.05 
.40 
.32 






26 








27 






.01 






28 










29 
















30 
















31 




































Total 


2.38 


4.92 


3.57 


2.50 


3.33 


1.91 


1.02 


3.26 



a Total, July 1-7. & Total, Aug. 6-7. 

Note. — During June there was no measurable precipitation at any of the stations. 

No data as to actual quantity of snowfall are available, but from 
conversation with residents it is believed that the annual snowfall is 
not great, seldom exceeding from 2 to 3 feet. With the exception 
of the drifts which form in the gulches and the ice banks along the 
beds of the rivers practically all snow in the drainage studied melted 
before the first of June; therefore, excepting the streams whose 
sources are in the protected gulches, the snow storage has but little 
effect upon the run-off. 

The ground water comes from the melting of the frozen ground, 
which carries a large per cent of water. Its quantity depends, there- 
fore, on the temperature and surface covering and action of rain. 
The thawing of the ground is slow and never reaches any great depth, 
so the rain does not have an opportunity to be taken up as ground 
storage, except late in the season. Early frosts, however, interfere 
with this storage, so that it can be said that practically all the ground 
water comes from melting ice. 

With the exception of Sinuk and Nome rivers, which have their 
sources in the Kigluaik, a short distance apart, the streams flowing 
into Bering Sea rise in the low foothills south of the Kigluaik Range. 
Their drainage areas- have a direct southern exposure and practically 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 196 PL. Ml 




.1, TUNDRA BETWEEN BEACH AND FOOTHILLS. 




/,'. MIOCENE DITCH. GLACIER CREEK. 



CONDITIONS AFFECTING WATER SUPPLY. 



n 



all the snow on them is melted by the first of Jiiih\ Thvy nrv tlier(^- 
fore limited for their water supply to the summer rains and the ^^round 
water from the melting ground. 

The gulches in the Kigluaik are more protected and hold their 
snow much later in the season. There are also occasional sunnner 
snows in these mountains, so that the streams which rise in tlieni liave 
a much better sustained flow. 

Owing to the steep slopes, lack of other vegetation than grass, and 
nearness of the frozen ground to the' surface, the water from rainfall 
and thawing finds its way into the streams in a very short time. 
Flood flow comes immediately after showers and extreme warm 




July?l 



Aug.lO 



Sept.9 



Sept 1 9 Sept 29 



Fig. 1— Diagram showing flow of Nome River above MioDou . intake and of Grand Central River 

below the forks. 

spells and is usually of short duration, as there is no way in which the 
excess water can be taken up by the ground and stored (see fig. 1). 
In going along the Miocene ditch durin, the heavy storm of July 8, 
1906, it was noted that although all supply gates were closed and the 
waste gates were open, the ditch was running full from the rain water 
coming in from the drainage above. Owing to this lack of ground 
storage, which is one of the important factors of maintaining a well- 
sustained stream flow in warmer climates, the streams depend on the 
rainfall and melting ice and respond very quickly to an increase in 
either of these two factors. Therefore, when the rainfall is slight, as 
in the past year and in 1900, the stream flow will be small. 

MEASUREMENTS OF FEOW. 

EXPLANATION OF DATA AND METHODS OF WORK. 

The methods of carrying on the work and collecting the data were 
substantially the same as those previously used for similar work and 



12 WATER SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA. 

described in Water-Supply Papers Nos. 94, 95, and 167. They may 
be briefly outlined as follows: 

In the consideration of industrial or mining enterprises which use 
the water of streams, it is essential to know the total amount of the 
water flowing in the stream, the daily distribution of the flow, and 
facts in regard to the conditions affecting the flow. Several terms are 
used, such as second-foot, miner's inch, gallons per minute, etc., to 
describe the quantity of water flowing in a stream, the one selected 
depending on the use to be made of the data. 

'^ Second-foot" is in most general use for all classes of work, and 
from it the quantity expressed in other terms maybe obtained.^ It is 
an abbreviation of cubic foot per second and may be defined as the 
quantity of water flowing in a stream 1 foot wide and 1 foot deep at 
the rate of 1 foot per second. It should be noted that it is a rate of 
flow, and to obtain the actual quantity of water it is necessary to multi- 
ply it by the time. 

'^Second-feet per square mile" is the average number of cubic feet 
of water flowing per second from each square mile of area drained, on 
the assumption that the run-off is distributed uniformly, as regards 
both time and area. 

''Run-off in inches" is the depth to which the drainage area would 
be covered if all the water flowing from it in a given period were con- 
served and uniformly distributed on the surface. It is used for com- 
paring run-off with rainfall, which is expressed in depth in inches. 

"Acre-foot" is equivalent to 43,560 cubic feet, and is the quantity 
required to cover an acre to the depth of 1 foot. It is commonly used 
in connection with storage problems. 

The "miner's inch," the unit used in connection with placer mining, 
also expresses a rate of flow, and is the quantity of water flowing 
through an orifice of a given size, with a given head. The head and 
size of the orifice used in different localities vary, thus making it a 
most indefinite and unsatisfactory unit. Owing to the confusion 
arising from its use, it has been defined by law in several States. The 
California miner's inch is in most common use and was defined by an 
act approved March 23, 1901, as follows: "The standard miner's inch 
of water shall be equivalent or equal to 1^ cubic feet of water per 
minute, measured through any aperture or orifice." 

The determination of the quantity of water flowing past a certain 
section of a stream at a given time is called a "discharge measure- 
ment," and points where regular measurements are made are called 
"gaging stations." Hydrographic field work consists in measuring 

aThe miner's inch is generally regarded as one-fortieth or one-fiftieth of a second-foot; therefore, 
to reduce second-feet to miner's inches it is necessary to multiply by either 40 or 50. 



METHODS OF MEASUREMENT OF FLOW. 13 

the area of the cross section of a stream and the velocity of its current. 
The product of these two factors gives the discharge. 

In making a measurement a tapehne is stretched across the stream 
(see Ph IV, B), and depth and velocity are measured at regular inter- 
vals (varying from 1 to 5 feet apart, depending on the size of the 
stream) . The depths from which the area of the cross section is com- 
puted are taken by sounding with a graduated rod. The velocities 
are measured by a current meter (see PI. IV, A). As the velocity 
varies with the depth, observations are taken near the surface, at 
middepth, and near the bottom. The mean of the velocities at these 
points gives the mean velocity for that vertical section. 

One of the general laws of the flow of streams with permanent cross 
sections is that the discharge varies directly with the stage, or gage 
height, and that it will be the same whenever the stage or gage height 
of the stream is the same. Therefore, in order to determine the daily 
discharge of a stream, a gage on which the fluctuations of the surface 
of the stream may be noted is installed and read daily. As the dis- 
charge regularly increases with the stage, it is possible with a few 
discharge measurements taken at various stages to construct a rating 
curve which will give the discharge at all stages. The beds of most of 
the streams measured changed but little during the season and it was 
therefore possible to obtain the daily flow as just stated. 

Water to be of use for mining purposes must be available under con- 
siderable pressure, or when diversion is necessary it must be taken at 
an elevation high enough to allow it to be carried over the divides. 
The gaging stations, therefore, were so established as to obtain meas- 
urements at points whose elevations were sufficient to permit the stream 
to be diverted for use in mining on the ground already prospected. 
Such stations were established on all the important streams in the 
area. At some of the locations it was impossible to secure gage 
readers to take the daily observations of river height, and for these 
stations it is only possible, therefore, to give the flow at the time of the 
actual discharge measurements. The following pages give the results 
of measurements on the various streams : 

NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

Nome River is formed by the junction of Buffalo and Deep Canyon 
creeks, which have their sources in the Kigluaik Range. It has a 
drainage area of 150 square miles and flows in a general southerly 
direction through a valle}^ having a length of about 40 miles and a 
width varying from 4 to 6 miles. The elevation at the headwaters 



14 WATER SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA. 

is between 3,000 and 4,000 feet, while the altitude of the ridges that 
bound the valley on the east and west averages 1,000 feet. The 
principal tributaries are David, Sulphur, Darling, Buster, and Osborn 
creeks from the east and Divide, Dorothy, Clara, and Hobson creeks 
from the west. 

Nome River is the most important source of water for use in 
hydraulicking the rich placer deposits on the old beach lines back of 
Nome. Four ditches have been built to divert water for mining 
purposes. These systems, with the elevations of their intakes, are 
the Campion, 610 feet; Miocene, 572 feet; Seward, 407 feet; and 
Pioneer, 340 feet. 

Any additional water supply that may be obtained in other high- 
level streams can best be brought to the mines by way of the valley 
of Nome River. During the season of 1906 the waters of Nugget, Cop- 
per, and Jett creeks were diverted over the Nugget divide by branches 
of the Miocene system. 

Discharge measurements made in this drainage are given in the 
following pages : 

NOME RIVER ABOVE MIOCENE INTAKE. 

This station, elevation about 575 feet, is located between the junc- 
tion of Buffalo and Deep Canyon creeks and the intake of Miocene 
ditch. At low water the river at this point has a width of about 30 
feet, a depth of 1^ feet, and a mean velocity of 1 foot per second. The 
gage was read twice daily by employees of the Miocene Ditch 
Company. 

The flow at this station is affected by four ditches : Campion ditch, 
which diverts water from above the station, and Jett Creek, David 
Creek, and Grand Central ditches, which bring in water above the 
station from outside the area. In order to obtain the natural flow 
of the river, the mean flow of Campion ditch has been added to the 
flow at the gaging station and the flow of the other three ditches 
subtracted. 

Discharge measurements of Nome River above Miocene intake in 1906. 
[Elevation, 575 feet.] 



June 17 a 
June 28.. 
July 3 . . . 
July. 5 . . . 
July 14.. 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



0.15 
.00 
.45 
.40 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
39 
28 
21 

54.7 
50.5 



Date. 



July 14 . . . 
August 3 - 
August 23 . 
August 23 . 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 

.82 

-.01 

.87 

.70 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
117 
21.4 
121 

87 



a One-half mile above Dorothy Creek. 



NOME RIVER. 

Mean daily gage height arid discharge of Nome River at Miocene intake, 1906. 
[Drainage area. 15 square miles.] 



15 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec-feet. 
23 
23 
21 
35 
59 
40 
37 
214 
260 
119 
73 
76 
62 
78 
70 
61 
56 
47 
36 
29 
27 
27 
45 
40 
36 
30 
26 
25 
23 
23 
22 


Feet. 

0.02 

.0 

-.01 

-.02 

-.04 

-.04 

+ .09 

+ .04 

-.02 

.0 

+ .26 

.34 

.28 

.10 

.04 

.03 

.02 

.0 

.0 

. +.38 

.41 

.42 

.87 

.53 

.48 

.80 

1.14 

.78 

.72 

.70 

.62 


Sec-feet. 
22 
21 
21 
20 
20 
20 
25 
23 
20 
21 
36 
43 
37 
25 
23 
22 
22 
21 
21 
47 
50 
52 
123 
66 
59 
110 
176 
106 
96 
92 
79 


Feet. 
0.61 
.57 
.52 
.46 
.42 
.40 
.36 
.36 
.27 
.21 
.18 
.18 
.18 
.15 
.12 
.10 
.10 
.32 
.70 
1.22 
1.12 
.83 
.82 
.74 
.65 
.6 
.54 
.52 
.52 
.5 


Sec-feet. 
78 


2 . . 




72 


3 


0.00 
.25 
.48 
.31 
.28 

1.31 

1.5 
.85 
.58 
.6 
.5 
.61 
.56 
.49 
.45 
.38 
.26 
.16 
.14 
.13 
.36 
.31 
.26 
.18 
.12 
.09 
.06 
.04 
.02 


65 


4 . 


57 


5 


52 


6. 


49 


7 


45 




39 


9 


37 


10 


32 


11 


30 


12 


30 


13 


30 


14 . . . 


28 


15 


26 


16 


25 


17 


25 


18 


41 


19. 


92 


20 


194 


21 


172 


22 


115 


23 


114 


24. 


99 


25 


84 


26 


76 


27 


68 


28 


65 


29 


65 


30 


62 


31 










Mean at gaging station 




56.2 
5.2 




49.0 
14.4 




65.6 


Mean of Campion ditch 








15.8 












Total 


61.4 


63.4 


81.4 












Da-vad Creek ditch 


o6 
al 
o3 


6 
as 


o7 


Jett Creek ditch 




" ' 




a 5 


Grand Central ditch (Nugget Creek) 








a 5 













Total . 


10 


13 


17 












Natural flow of Nome River . . . 


51.4 
3.43 
3.95 


50.4 
3.36 
3.87 


64.4 


Run-off per square mile 








4.29 


Run-off, depth in inches 








4.79 











a Approximate. 
BUFFALO CREEK. 

Buffalo Creek rises in a deep canyon on the south side of the Kig- 
luaik Mountains. From this canyon it joins Deep Canyon Creek and 
forms Nome River. Measurements were made as follows: 

Discharge measurements on Buffalo Creek in 1906. 
[Elevation, 800 feet; drainage area, 4.4 square miles.] 



Date. 


Discharge. 


rune 28 ... 


Sec. -feet. 
18.1 


July 6.. 


23.3 


A-Ugust 3 


9.1 







16 WATER SUPPLY OF l^OME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA. 

DOROTHY CREEK. 

Dorothy Creek, which enters Nome River from the southwest, is a 
short, precipitous stream. It receives water from Campion ditch, as 
noted on page 21. The following discharge measurements were made 
above the outlet of the ditch: 

Discharge measurements on Dorothy Creek in 1906. 
[Elevation, 500 feet; drainage area, 2.7 square miles.] 



Date. 


Discfiarge. 


June 16 . 


Sec-feet. 
5.1 


July 29 


3.0 


August 18 


2.9 







THE MIOCENE DITCH SYSTEM. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



The Miocene ditch system includes 31 miles of main ditch and 
31 miles of lateral feeders and distributing ditches, 8 miles of which are 
under construction (see PL III, B, and PL V). This ditch diverts 
water from upper Glacier Creek, upper Snake River, Nome River and 
its tributaries, and from the Grand Central River drainage for use on 
claims along lower Glacier, Dexter, and Anvil creeks. 

The first section of this system was built in 1901, from upper Glacier 
Creek to Snow Gulch, this being the first ditch in Seward Peninsula. 
In 1902 an extension was made from Ex to Hobson Creek, and in 1903 
it was extended to the head of Nome River, these three sections con- 
stituting the main line of the system, with a length of 31 miles. The 
elevation of the intake is 572 feet and that of the lower end 420, giving 
a fall of 152 feet. This fall varies along the ditch from 3.37 to 7 feet 
per mile. There are two siphons, one at Dorothy Creek, 24 inches by 
300 feet, which carries about 40 second-feet, and one at Manila Creek:, 
40 inches by 1,000 feet. Below Willow Creek there is a 1,100-foot 
flume. The main ditch has an average width of 8 feet above and 10 
feet below Hobson and a capacity of 60 second-feet. The mean 
flow is about 40 second-feet. 

The water is delivered from the end of the ditch on claims along 
Glacier Creek; on Anvil Creek by a tunnel 1,800 feet long and 4 by 6 
feet in cross section, built in 1903 and 1904; and on Dexter Creek by a 
ditch from Ex around the south side of King Mountain. 

The lateral feeders, in order up the ditch, are: (1) From upper 
Glacier to Ex (this was the upper portion of the first section of the main 
ditch); (2) Grouse and Cold creeks to flume; (3) Upper New Eldo- 
rado to Sparkle Creek (this section is to be connected to the main 
ditch by a siphon across Nome River); (4) David Creek ditch, which 
empties into Nome River above the intake; (5) Jett Creek ditch, 
which runs along the south side of the Nugget divide into Deep Can- 
yon and takes water from Jett and Copper creeks; (6) Grand Central 



MIOCENE DITCH SYSTEM. 



17 



ditch, which is under construction (this ditch diverts water from 
Nugget Creek and will tap the headwaters of Grand Central River). 

As a rule water can not be turned into ditches in this region before 
July 1, as there is too much frost in the ground. In 1906 the water of 
Hobson Creek was turned into the ditch about June 20 and of Nome 
River about June 26, but before July 1 was turned out frequently to 
permit of repairs. The ditch was also out of use on account of a break 
from July 8 to 11, inclusive, after which date the water ran almost 
continually. 

The following pages give the results of measurements on ditches 
in this system. 

MIOCENE DITCH AT BLACK POINT. 

Measurements of flow were made at this point, about 1 mile below 
the mtake, to determine the amount of water diverted from Nome 
River by the Miocene ditch. The gage was read by employees of the 
Miocene Ditch Company. 

Discharge measurements of Miocene ditch at Black Point in 1906. 



Date. 



July 7.. 
July 13. 
July 21 . 
July 27. 
Julv29. 



Gage 


Dis- 


height. 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


0.80 


31. S 


.89 


34.1 


.71 


27.5 


.68 


25.7 


.46 


20.6 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 

August 2 0. 39 

August 11 ■ 1.20 

August 23 i 1. 30 

September 11 j .85 

September 25 ' 1. 10 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
18.1 
44.7 
48.3 
30.7 
38.2 



Mean daily gage height and discharge o 


/ Miocene ditch at Black Point, 1906. 




July. 


August 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 1 Dis- 
height. charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


3 

5;;:::;::;;::;;:;::::;;::::;;;:::::::;:::; 

6 

8 


Feet. 
0.7 
.7 
.6 
.85 
.95 
.88 
.85 


Sec.-ft. 
27 
27 
24 
31.5 
34.8 
32.4 
31.5 

0* 




21 

36.5 
>).5 
36.5 
43.5 
40 
40 
40 

33.7 
27 
27 

24.6 
31.5 
34.8 
33.7 
28.5 
24.6 
22.2 
21 
19.9 
19.2 


Feet. 
0.4 
.38 
.35 
.34 
.33 
.34 
.52 
.48 
.37 
.40 
.81 
.82 
.96 
.6 
.5 
.5 
.45 
.39 
.46 
.86 
1.12 
1.03 
1.17 
1.19 
1.2 
1.17 
1.16 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 


Sec.-ft. 
18.8 
18.5 
IS 

17.8 
17.7 
17.8 
21.6 
20.6 
18.3 
18.8 
30.3 
30.6 
35.1 
24 
21 
21 

19.9 
18.6 
20.1 
31.8 
40.7 
37.6 
42.4 
43.2 
43.5 


Feet. 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
1.17 
1.04 
1.0 
.98 
.82 
.8 
.8 
.76 
.72 
.66 
.64 
.78 
.80 
.58 
.69 
.92 
1.0 
.96 


Sec.-ft. 
43.5 
43.5 
43.5 
43.5 
43.5 
43.5 
42.4 
37.9 


9.::::::.::::::::::::::::;::.:.;.:::.: ...::::::;;:: 


36.5 


10 


35.8 


11 

13!^;!;";!;;!!;;;!;!;!!;;^!;;;;!";!;;;!;;;; 

14 

16 

is!";'!!!;;;;;";!";"!!!!!";!!;;;;;;;!;;;!;; 

19 

20 

21 


.5 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.2 
1.1 
1.1 
1.1 

.92 

.7 

.62 


30.6 

30 

30 

28.8 

27.6 

25.8 

25.2 

29.4 

30 

23.4 

26.7 


22. . . 


33.7 


23 ::..:::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

24 

25 


.85 

.95 

.92 

.75 

.62 

.54 

.5 

.45 

.42 


36.5 
35.1 
38.2 


26 

27 

28 • 

29 


42.4 I 1.06 
42.1 1.22 

43.5 ! 1.2 
43.5 i 1 "^ 


38.6 
44.2 
43.5 
43 5 


30 

31 


43.5 
43.5 


1.2 


. 43.5 




Mean 




27.4 




29.2 




35.9 











IRR 196—07- 



18 WATER SUPPLY OF IS-QME EEGIOJ?^, SEWARD PENINSULA. 
MIOCENE DITCH AT THE FLUME. 

This station was established to determine the amount of water 
entering -the ditch between the intake at Black Point and the flume. 
This water includes seepage from the bank and the flow of several 
small creeks — 10 to 15 second-feet at low water from Hobson Creek 
and a small amount from the branch ditch to Grouse Creek. The 
flume has a grade of 7 feet to the mile, a width of 8 feet, and a height 
of 28 inches. On September 25 a measurement was made to deter- 
mine its capacity with the water 2 feet deep, when the flow proved to 
be nearly 60 second-feet. This exceeds the safe capacity of the ditch 
in the vicinity of the flume. The gage was read by employees of the 
Miocene Ditch Company. 

Discharge measurements of Miocene ditch at flume in 1906. 



Date. 



July 4... 
July 27.. 
August 2 



height. 



Feet. 
0.95 
1.08 
".81 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
29.8 
36.5 
28.3 



Date. 



September 11 
September 25 
September 26 



height. 



Feet. 
1.50 
1.85 
1.65 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
43.9 

58.2 
48.5 



Mean daily gage height and discharge of Miocene ditch at flume, 1906. 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Ft. 
0.98 
.95 
.92 
1.0 
1.08 
1.09 
1.12 
(a) 

(«) 
(a) 

.79 
1.1 
1.26 
1.29 
1.28 
1.39 
1.35 
1.35 
1.28 
1.19 
1.16 
1.11 
1.19 
1.09 
1.26 
1.17 
1.07 
.98 
.95 
.91 
.88 


Sec.-ft. 
31.6 
30.8 
29.9 
32.1 
34.3 
34.5 
35.3 







26.4 
34.8 
39.1 

42^6 

41.6 

41.6 

39.7 

37.2 

36.4 

35.1 

37.2 

34.5 

39.1 

36.7 

34 

31.6 

30.8 

29.7 

28.9 


Ft. 

0.82 

' .81 

.84 

.89 

.9 

.91 

.93 

.98 

.9 

.88 

1.01 

1.13 

1.23 

1.02 

.94 

.92 

.91 

.87 

.86 

1.1 

1.29 

1.28 

1.32 

1.4 

1.44 

1.55 

1.34 

1.46 

1.51 

1.56 

1.5 


Sec.-ft. 
27.2 
27 
27.8 
29.1 
29.4 
29.7 
30.2 
31.6 
29.4 
28.9 
32.4 
35.6 
38.3 
32.6 
30.5 
29.9 
29.7 
28.6 
28.3 
34.8 
39.9 
39.7 
40.7 
42.9 
44 
47 

41.3 
44.5 
45.9 
47.3 
45.6 


Ft. 
1.71 
1.71 
1.7 
1.7 
1.7 

l!66 

1.68 

1.63 

1.54 

1.49 

1.46 

1.45 

1.41 

1.4 

1.34 

1.31 

1.47 

1.48 

1.52 

1.58 

1.65 

1.61 

1.6 

1.71 

1.63 

1.75 

1.76 

1.79 

1.8 


Sec.-ft. 
51. S 


2 : 


51.5 


3 . . 


51.2 




51.2 


5 


51.2 


6 


50.9 




50.1 


8 


50.6 


9 


49.2 


10 


46.7 


11 


45.3 


12 


44.5 


13 


44.2 


14 


43 2 


15 


42.9 


16 


41.3 


17 


40 5 


18 


44.8 


19 


45.1 


20 


46 2 


21 


47.8 


22 


49 8 


24 '. '.". 


48.7 
48.4 


25 


51 5 


26 


49.2 


27 ... 


52.6 


28 


52 9 


29 


53.7 


30 


54 


31 










Mean 




b31.8 




35.2 




48.4 













a Ditch broken by heavy rains- 



b For 28 days, 35.2 second-feet. 



MIOCENE DITCH SYSTEM. 



19 



JETT CREEK DITCH. 

Jett Creek ditch was constructed during 1906 to divert water from 
Jett and Copper creeks over the Nugget divide. The water was 
turned in from Copper Creek on July 20 and from Jett Creek on 
August 18, and was turned out on September 25. The ditch carries 
the total flow of these creeks above the intake up to a maximum of 
about 10 second-feet. 

Discharge measurements on Jett Creek ditch at outlet in 1906. 



Date. 



July 21... 
August 11 
August 29 
August 31 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 

2.4 

.8 

4.6 

7.3 



Date. 



September 2. 
September 7 . 
September 10 
September 14 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 



9.2 
7.2 
5.3 
3.9 



GRAND CENTRAL DITCH. 

The completed portion of the Grand Central ditch diverted water 
from Nugget Creek at an elevation of- 785 feet between June 27 and 
September 29. For measurements of the flow in the ditch see p. 33. 

DAVID CREEK DITCH. 

David Creek flows into Nome River a short distance below the 
intake of Miocene ditch. It has a well-sustained flow, which is 
diverted at an elevation of 590 feet by a ditch leading to and empty- 
ing into Nome River just above the Miocene intake. This ditch car- 
ries all the flow of David Creek up to 14 second-feet. Its width is 4 
feet on the bottom, 6 feet on the top, and when full it has a depth of 
1^ feet and a mean velocity of about If feet per second. The water 
was running in this ditch before gagings were made on Nome River 
and was turned out only during extreme high water. 

Discharge measurements of David Creek ditch in 1906. 



Date. 



July 3.... 
July 29..., 
August 3.. 
August 23. 
August 29. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



0.51 
.41 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
3.5 
6.4 
4.4 
7.9 
5.4 



Date. 



August 29 
Do... 
Do... 
Do... 
Do... 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.< 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
7.6 
10.1 
13.7 
13.7 
11.4 



20 WATEK SUPPLY OF NOME EEGION, SEWARI) PENINSULA. 



Mean daily gage height and discharge of David Creek ditch, 1906. 
[Drainage area at point of diversion, 4.3 square miles.] 





August. 


Day. 


August. 


Day. 


Gage 
heigtit. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 . . . 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


18 


Feet. 
.31 
.29 
.40 
.38 
.50 
.52 
.48 
.54 
.77 
.34 
.4 
.41 
.78 
.80 


Sec.-ft. 
3 7 


2 






19 


3.3 


3 






20 


5.4 


4 


0.35 
.35 
.35 
.42 
.38 
.37 
.37 
.38 
.4 
.38 
.35 
.34 
.33 

0.39 


4.4 
4.4 
4.4 
5.8 
5.0 
4.8 
4.8 
5.0 
5.4 
5.0 
4.4 
4.3 
4.1 
5.2 


21 

22. 


5 


5 


7.5 


6 


23 


7 9 




24 


7.1 


8. . - 


25 


8 3 


9 


26 


13 2 


10 


27 


4.3 


11 


28 


5.4 


12 


29 


5.6 


18 


30 


13.4 


14 


31 


13.8 


15 






16 '.. 






6.1 


17 













SEEPAGE MEASUREMENTS ON MIOCENE DITCH. 

Measurements were made at different times at several points along 
the main ditch and also on the Jett Creek branch to determine the loss 
by seepage from the different sections of the ditch. The discharge 
of the branches and principal feeders was found by measuring the 
flow in the ditch above and below them. The results obtained for the 
section between measurements were therefore the resultant of the gain 
from creeks too small to measure and the loss by seepage and leakage. 
The measurements of July 3 to 4 and on July 27 were made at periods 
of extreme low water, and show a much larger loss than those of Sep- 
tember 11 to 12, when there was much more water entering. On the 
latter date the ditch was gaining along much of its course. These 
measurements are of value to ditch builders in showing the losses 
which may be expected in ditches in frozen countries. 

Seepage measurements of Miocene ditch, 1906. 

MAIN DITCH FROM NOME RIVER TO GLACIER CREEK. 



Date. 



July 3.. 

Do. 
July 4.. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 
July 27. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 
Do. 



Point of measurement. 



Nome River intake. 

Above Hobson 

......do 

Below Hobson 

Above flume 

Below flume 

Above Ex 

Above tunnel 

Nome River intake. 

Black Point 

Above Dorothy. .. 
Below Dorothy.. , 
Above Hobson 



Below Hobson , 

Grouse Creek branch . 



Total above flume 



Dis- 
charge. 


Gain. 


Loss. 


Sec.-ft. 
21 

15.8 
20.5 
31.0 
28.1 
29.8 
27.9 
28.8 
28 
25.7 
26.2 
26.0 
23.7 


Sec.-ft. 


Sec.-ft. 




5.2 






10.5 




2.9 


1.7 




1.9 


.9 








2.3 


.5 




.2 




2.3 


14.3 




38.0 
1.7 










39.7 









CAMPION DITCH. 

Seepage measurements of Miocene diich, 1906 — Continued. 
MAIN DITCH FROM NOME RIVER TO GLACIER CREEK -Continued. 



21 



Date. 


Point of measurement. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gain. 


Loss. 


July 27 

August 2 


Below flume 


Sec.-ft. 
36.5 
28.3 


Sec.-ft. 


Sec.-ft. 
3.2 


do . . . 















Do 


13.0 
13.3 




Do 


Dexter branch 








Total 








26.3 


2 




Nome River at intake 







September 11.. 
Do 


29.8 
30.7 
30.3 
30 




Black Point 


.9 




Do 




. 4 


Do 


Above Hobson 


3 




Below Hobson 


14.4 




Do 


44 4 
2.4 




Do 


G rouse Creek branch 







Total above flume 








46.8 






Below flume 






Do 


43.9 
a 43 


2 9 


September 12.. 


do 






Glacier Fork at Ex 






Do 


30.3 
15.3 




Do 


Dexter Fork at Ex.. ... 








Total at Ex 


2.6 






45.6 






Glacier Fork at Ex 




September 13.. 
Do 


a 29. 6 

29.4 

6.9 

6.4 




Above tunnel 




.2 


July 29 


Intake, David Creek branch '. 






Do 


Outlet, David Creek branch . 




.5 











JETT CREEK BRANCH. 



September 10. . 


Copper Creek ditch, intake 


2.5 








Copper Creek ditch, outlet into Jett Creek ditch 

Jett Creek ditch, intake 






Do 


1.8 
4.2 


0.7 


Do 








Total 








6 






Jett -Creek ditch, below junction with Copper Creek 
ditch . . 






Do 


5.7 
5.3 


.3 


Do 


Outlet over Nugget divide 




.4 











a Estimated. 



CAMPION DITCH AT BLACK POINT. 

This ditch diverts water from Buffalo Creek at an elevation of 610 
feet. Its lower end terminates in Dorothy Creek, into which it dis- 
charges. The ditch has a width of 6 feet on bottom and 9 feet on top, 
is 2 feet deep, and has a mean velocity of 2 feet per second when ran- 
ning full. The water was turned in at 1 p.m. on July 6. The ditch 
broke near its outlet at 7 a. m. on July 8. It was repaired and water 
turned in again on the 19th. All water was turned out from 9.30 p. m. 
August 12 to 2.30 p. m. August 13. 

Measurements were taken on the ditch in order to determine the 
natural flow of Nome River below the junction of Buffalo and Deep 
Canyon creeks. 



22 WATER SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA, 

Discharge measurements of Campion ditch at Black Point in 1906. 



Date. 



July 7... 
July 20.. 
July 21 . . 
August 2 



Gage 


Dis- 


height. 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec-feet. 


0.80 


11.9 


.60 


8.9 


.70 


10.2 


.67 


9.7 



Date. 



August 11 
August 18 
August 23 
August 31 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.36 
.76 
1.10 
1.00 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec-feet. 
21. b 
12.0 
19.6 
16.8 



Mean daily gage height and discharge of Campion ditch, 1906. 
[Drainage area at point of diversion, 8.2 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec-feet. 


Feet. 
.69 
.68 
.65 
.62 
.56 
.61 
.69 
.7 
.73 
.77 
1.13 
1.05 
1.09 
1.02 
.92 
.8 
.8 
.78 
.75 
. 8 
.76 
1.01 
1.16 
.99 
.93 
1.15 
1.16 
1.14 
1.09 
1.0 
.99 


Sec-feet. 
10.1 
10 
9.5 
9 

8.2 
8.9 
10.1 
10.3 
10.9 
11.7 
20.4 
18.2 
19.2 
17.5 
15 
12.3 
12.3 
11.9 
11.3 
12.3 
11.5 
17.2 
21.3 
16.8 
15.2 
21 

21.-3 
20.7 
19.2 
17 
16.8 


Feet. 
0.98 
.9 
1.02 
1.04 
1.0 
1.02 
.96 
.96 
1.0 
1.08 
1.07 
1.02 
1.06 
1.02 
.98 
.93 
.92 
.9 
1.1 
.98 
.5 
.6 
.75 
.72 
.91 
.96 
1.02 
.98 
.95 
.94 


Sec-feet.- 
16.5 


2 






14.5 


3 






17.5 


4 






18 


5 . 






17 


6 






17.5 


7 


0.88 


14.1 


16 


8 


16 


9::;:::::::::::::: :.:.:. 






17 


10 






19 


11 






18.8 


12 






17.5 


13 






18.5 


14 






17.5 


15 






16.5 


16 






15.2 


17 






15 


18 






14.5 


19 






19.5 


20 






16.5 


21 






7.5 


22 






8.7 


23 






11.3 


24 






10.7 


25 


.92 

.78 
.75 
.82 
.78 
.76 
.72 


15 

11.9 

11.3 

12.7 

11.9 

11.5 

10.7 


14.8 


26 


16 


27 


17.5 


28 


16.5 


29 . . . . 


15.8 


30 


15.5 


31 , 










Mean 




12.4 




14.4 




15.8 













SEWARD DITCH. 

Seward ditch was built in 1905-6 to take water from Nome River 
just below Dorothy Creek, at an elevation of 407 feet, and convey it 
to Saturday Creek for use along the ancient beach line. Its total 
length is 38 miles. The water is conducted across Hobson and 
Clara creeks by 42-inch continuous stave-pipe siphons having lengths 
of 1,050 and 800 feet, respectively. 



GRAND CENTRAL RIVER. 



23 



Measurements to determine the flow and also the seepage of this 
ditch were made as follows: 

Seepage measurements of Seward ail eh in 19(:6. 



Date. 


Point of r..easure.T.ent. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 
Gain. | Loss. 


July 29 

Do 




Sec-feet. 

19.7 

20.6 

4.0 


Sec-feel. 


Sec-feet. 


Above Clara Creek 


0.9 




Do 








Above Trout Creek 






Do 


24.6 
22.0 


2.0 












Other measurements were made at the intake as follows: 

Diseharge measurements of Seward ditch at intake in 1906. 



Date. 



August 18 — 

August 30 

September 13. 



Discharge. 



Sec-feet. 



25 

26 

a 32 



a Estimated. 



GRAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

On account of its elevation and well-sustained flow, Grand Central 
River offers one of the most valuable unused water supplies of Seward 
Peninsula. The drainage area of this stream, which is about 12 miles 
long and 2 miles wide, is almost surrounded by ridges of the Sawtooth 
Range (Kigluaik Mountains), having elevations of from 1,500 to 4,000 
feet (see PI. VI, ^ and 5). 

The river is formed near the foot of Mount Osborn, at an elevation of 
about 700 feet, by the junction of North and West forks, and flows in a 
southerly direction into Salmon Lake. 

From the forks to Salmon Lake the river has a fall of about 300 
feet, and at high stages spreads over a wide gravelly bed, on either 
side of which there is a little bottom land, from which the mountains 
rise abruptly. 

The principal tributaries of Grand Central River below the forks 
are Gold Run and Rainbow creeks from the east, and Thompson, 
Thumit, Nugget, Jett, and Morning Call creeks from the west. These 
tributary streams, with the exception of Nugget Creek, drain short, 
steep-sided gulches. They have considerable fall and are fed from 
melting snow. 



24 WATEE SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA. 

In order to use the water from the drainage at Nome it has to be 
diverted over the Nugget divide, which has an elevation of 785 feet. 
One such diversion has been made from Jett Creek and Copper Creek, 
from which water is taken by the Jett Creek ditch into the Miocene 
ditch. 

The Miocene Ditch Company is building a ditch which will tap 
West Fork above the mouth of the Crater Lake outlet, and North 
Fork at an elevation of about 850 feet. This ditch will follow down 
the west side of the valley, crossing and tapping Thompson and Thu- 
mit creeks, and will pass over the Nugget divide, where it will be 
taken up by the main Miocene ditch and carried to Glacier and Anvil 
creeks. 

The Wild Goose Mining and Trading Company has started from 
Crater Lake a 42-inch continuous wood-pipe line, which will extend 
along the south side of the valley over the Nugget divide and down 
Nome valley to Anvil Mountain. The company plans to dam and 
use Crater Lake as a storage reservoir, into which the waters from 
North and West forks will be diverted by lateral pipes. Other laterals 
will carry the water of Gold Run and Thompson Creek into the main 
pipe line. Measurements made in this drainage are shown on the 
following pages. 

GRAND CENTRAL RIVER (NORTH FORK). 

North Fork of Grand Central River rises in a cirque at the base of 
Mount Osborn, which is surrounded by almost perpendicular moun- 
tains rising from 1,000 to 3,000 feet above the bed of the stream. 
This cirque contains the remnant of a small glacier, the melting of 
which maintains a very steady flow. The flow is added to by a large 
spring at an elevation of about 860 feet. 

Discharge measurements on this stream were made at elevations of 
about 750 feet and 1,030 feet, which points give the flow at the ditch 
and pipe intakes, respectively. The bed is very rough and it is difl[i- 
cult to obtain satisfactory measuring sections. Gage heights were 
read at the time of the measurements by measuring down from refer- 
ence points on rocks. 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 196 PL. VI 




A. UPPER GRAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE. 




j:. MOUNT OSBORN. 



GRAND CENTRAL RIVER. 



25 



Mean daily gage height and discharge of Orand Central River ( Nerrth Fork), 190G. 
[Elevation, 750 feet; drainage area, 5.4 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
hcignt. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec-feel. 
23 

(23) 
(23) 
(25) 


Feet. 


Sec-feet. 
30 
30 
30 
32 
32 
29 


Feet. 


Sec-feet. 


2 






0.92 


6 44 


3 ' 




38 


4 






38 


5 








40 


6 ... 










37 


7 ... 






0.81 


b32 
33 
31 
33 
32 
27 
27 
28 
28 
a 27 
b2b 
27 
25 
27 
(32) 
(36) 
(60) 
6 37 
40 
(^0) 
(67) 
67 
71 
54 
48 




33 


g 








31 


9 








.76 


6 27 


10 








28 


11 


1.10 


a 67 






27 


12 






(26) 


13 










26 


14 










27 


15 










26 


16 






.76 

.74 




25 


17 








25 


18 








27 


19 












20 




40 

(45) 

a 38 

42 

61 

a 47 

6 42 

45 

50 

38 

42 

28 








21 










22 


.85 




1.5 


6 c 120 


23 






24 




.85 






25 


.95 
.9 






26 








27 








28 










29 










30 .... 










31 

























d39.9 
7.39 
4.67 




36.7 
6.80 
7.84 




C31.6 










5.85 


Run-off depth in inches ... 








3.92 













a Measurements. 

6 Estimates based on gage readings. 



c Not included in mean. 
d 17 days. 



18 days. 



Note.— These estimates are made by subtracting the sum of the discharges at the West Fork and 
Crater Lake station from the flow below the forks. For the days for which this method does not give 
consistent results ths estimates are based on the West Fork flow and are in parenthesis. From 
July 5 to 19 the flow did not fall below 40 second-feet. The flow on June 26 was 43 second-feet. 

Mean daily discharge in second-feet of Grand Central River {North Fork). 1906. 
fElevation, 1,030 feet; drainage area, 2.3 square miles.] 



Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September 


1 


21 
21 
21 
22 


22 
22 
22 
24 
24 
21 

a 23 
25 
23 
25 
24 
20 
20 
21 
21 
20 

a 19 
20 
19 


31 
a 31 
27 
27 
28 
26 
23 
22 
a 19 
20 
19 
17 
18 
19 
18 
18 
17 
19 


20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

Mean 


31 
35 
30 
33 
48 
37 
a 33 
34 
38 
28 
32 
21 


20 
24 
27 
45 
a 28 
30 
30 
50 
50 
53 
40 
36 




2. . 




3 




4 




5 




6 






7 






8 






9 






10. 






11 






12 






13 






14 




6 30.3 
13.2 

7.86 


27.4 
11.9 
13.7 


c 22. 2 


15 




Run-off per 

square mile 

Run-ofl,depthin 




16 




9.65 


17 






18 




6.46 


19 

















a Measurements. Other discharges are obtained by taking about the same percentage of the flow at 
elevation 750 feet as was found on the dates of measurements. This varied from 70 to 90 per cent. 
Qagings on June 20 gave 30 second-feet, and on June 26, 43 second-feet. The flow from July 6 to 19 
probably exceeded 36 second-feet < b le days. c is days. 



26 WATEE SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA. 
GRANP CENTRAL RIVER (WEST FORK) . 

West Fork of Grand Central River has its source in Mount Osborn, 
and flows between Mount Osborn and the high ridges which separate 
the Grand Central drainage from the Sinuk drainage. It is fed from 
snow storage for a greater part of the season, and by Crater Lake, 
which lies at an elevation of 973 feet and has an area of about 106 
acres. West Fork did not have as well-sustained flow as North 
Fork, as much of the snow disappeared during the rain of July 4-12, 
and thereby reduced the yield from the higher levels for the rest of 
the summer. 

There is considerable glacial drift in the lower part of the area, 
containing several depressions, one having an area of nearly 5 acres. 
These fill with water during a rain and gradually drain off through 
the gravel. 

Two gaging stations were established on the fork at elevations of 
1,010 feet and 860 feet. The latter is just above the outlet to Crater 
Lake, and shows the flow at the proposed ditch intake. The condi- 
tions for measuring in this section were especially good, and a well- 
defined rating was obtained. At low water the width of the fork is 
17 feet, depth 2 feet, and mean velocity 1 .2 feet per second. 

The other station was established to obtain the flow at the proposed 
pipe intake by comparison with the flow at the lower station. The 
flow was about 70 per cent of that at the lower station during the 
earlier part of the season. As the snow above the pipe intake 
melted away and the flow of the springs between the intakes increased, 
this percentage became about 35 for low water and 50 for higher 
stages. The cold weather in September checked the flow at high 
levels and reduced the percentage to 32. 

Discharge measurements of Grand Central River ( West Forh) in 1906. 
[Elevation, 860 feet.] 



Date. 



J une 19 . 
June 26. 
Julyl.. 
July 10. 
July 11. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



1.65 
1.53 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec-feet. 
40.4 
38 
28.6 
115 



Date. 



July 22.... 
July 24.... 
July 25.... 
August 6.. 
August 16. 



Gage 


Dis- 


height. 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec-feel. 


1.20 


38.1 


1.41 


58 


1.34 


50 


1.12 


30.8 


1.01 


23 



GRAND CENTRAL RIVER. 

Mean daily gage height and discharge of (hand Central River (JVest Fork), 1906. 
Elevation, 860 feet; drainage area, 54 square miles.] 



27 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


I 


Feet. 


Sec-feet. 
29 
28 
22 
28 
162 


Feet. 
1.12 


Sec. -feet. 
30 
30 
:«) 
34 
34 
30 
32 
29 
20 
23 
25 
28 
27 
25 
24 
23 
22 
22 
22 
21 
30 
30 
60 
37 
33 
38 
54 
47 
47 
44 
44 


Feet. 
1.27 
1.24 
1.2 
1.12 
1.08 
1.05 
1.05 
1.02 
1.01 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
.98 
.95 
.92 
.92 
.92 
1.0 


Sec-feel. 
44 




1.1 

1.0 

. 1.1 

1.8 




40 


o 




36 






30 






27 




i.i2 

1.15 
1.11 


25 


7 







25 


8 






23 


9 






23 


10 


i.65 

1.53 

1.75 

1.6 

1.55 

1.45 

1.4 

1.45 

1.4 

1.3 

1.3 

1.35 

1.2 

1.52 

1.41 

1.33 

1.25 

1.25 


116 
80 
144 
103 
90 
70 
01 
70 
01 
47 
47 
54 
36 
83 
63 
51 
42 
42 
39 
36 
32 
31 


1.02 
1. 05 
1.1 
1.08 
1.05 


22 


11 


22 


12 


22 


13 


21 


14 


20 


15 


19 


16 


1.01 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
.98 
1.12 
1.2 
1.39 
1.21 
1.16 
1.22 
1. 35 
1.3 
1.3 
1.27 


19 


17 


19 


18 


22 


19 




20 






21 






22 


1.6 


a 103 


23 




24 






25 . 






26 






27 






28 







29 


1.2 

1.15 

1.14 







30 






31 










Moan 




6 59.8 
11.07 
11.12 




32.5 
6.02 
6.94 




<;25.5 


Run-off per square mile 








4 72 


Run-off, depth in inches 








3.16 













oNot included in mean. 6 27 days. f 18 days. 

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, of Grand Central River {West Fork), 1906. 
[Elevation, 1,010 feet; drainage area, 2.8 square miles.] 



Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 

22 

19 

16 

12 

9 

9 

8 

8 

a7 3 

7 

7 

7 

7 

6 

6 

6 

6 

7 , 


Day. 


July 


August. 


September. 


1 


a 19 
18 
15 

18 


12 
12 
12 
14 
14 
al2 
12 
10 

9 

8 

9 
11 
10 

9 

8 

8 
17.6 

8 

8 


20 .. 


20 
23 

a 15 
44 
32 

a 25 
19 
19 
16 
14 
13 
12 


7 

12 
16 
30 
a 18. 5 
15 
19 
27 
24 
24 
22 
22 




2 


21 




3 


22 




4 


23 




5 


24 




6. 




25 




7 




26 




8 


27 




9. I 


28 




10 


29 




11 


a 45 
72 
52 
45 
32 
27 
32 
27 
20 


30 




12 


31 




13 


Mean 




14 


6 27.0 
9.64 
8.96 


13.9 
4.96 
5.72 


c9. 4 


15 


Run-off per 
square mile 

Run-off, depth 
in inches 




16... 


3 36 


17 




18 


2.25 


19 











a Measurements. Other discharges are obtained by taking about the same percentage of the flow at 
elevation 8(i0 feet as was found on the dates of measurements. Gagings on June 19 gave 28 second-feet, 
and on June 26, 26 second-feet. 

6 25 days. 

c 18 days. 



28 WATER SUPPLY OF JSTOME REGIOTs^, SEWARD PENINSULA. 



CRATER LAKE OUTLET. 



Crater Lake discharges into West Fork of Grand Central River just 
below the lower point of measurement on that stream. The lake, 
which lies in a depression of glacial origin, has an elevation of 973 feet 
and an area of 106 acres. Its basin adjoins those of Sinuk River and 
Thompson Creek. 

A gaging station was located on the outlet about midway between 
the lake and West Fork. The stream bed is composed of large angular 
rocks and has a fall of nearly 300 feet to the mile. It is hard to make 
measurements on account of the swiftness of the current, and the one 
at high water is only approximate. Gage heights were taken by 
employees of the Wild Goose Mining and Trading Company. 

Discharge measurements of Crater Lake outlet in 1906. 
[Elevation, 925 feet.] 



Date. 



June 19. 
June 26. 
Julyl.. 
July 10. 
July 22. 



height. 



Feet. 



1.55 
.96 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec-feet. 
14.2 
23.7 
13.6 
59 
12.0 



Date. 



July 24 

August 6. .. 
August 8... 
August 16.. 
September 9 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.10 
.90 
.98 
.80 
.73 



Dis- 
charse. 



Sec^feet. 

21.5 
7.1 

13.0 
5.6 
4.3 



Mean daily gage height and discharge of Crater Lake outlet. 1906. 
[Drainage area, 1.8 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec. -feet. 
14 
14 
14 
25 
69 


Feet. 
0.85 


Sec-feet. 

7 ■ 

7 

8 

8 

9 

9 
11 
12 
10 

9 

9 
14 
11 

9 

7 

5.5 

5.5 

5.5 

5.5 

5 
15 
15 
31 
15 
14 
21 
23 
21 
17 
14 
13 


Feet. 
0.98 
.94 
.9 
.82 
.78 
.78 
.78 
.75 
.73 
.71 

!68 
.65 
.65 
.61 
.61 
.61 
.75 


Sec-feet. 
13 


2 


i.o 

1.0 

1.15 

1.65 


10 


3 




9 


4 




6 


5 




5 


6 


.9 

.95 

.96 


5 


7 . ... 




5 


8 




4.5 


9 . 




4.3 


10 

11 


1.55 
1.25 
1.45 
1.3 
1.15 
1.1 
1.15 
1.1 
1.05 
1.0 
■ 1.0 
1.05 
.96 
1.06 
1.1 
1.05 
1.02 
1.0 


59 
33 
50 
37 
25 
21 
25 
21 
17 
14 
14 
17 
12 
18 
21 
17 
15 
14 
12 
9 
8 


.9 
.9 
1.0 
.95 
.9 


4.1 
3.9 


12 

15 


3,8 
3.5 
3.5 
3.1 


17;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; 

18 

19 


.8 

.8 

.79 

.8 

.78 

1.01 

. 1.01 

1.22 

1.02 

1.0 

1.1 

1.12 

1.1 

1.05 

1.0 


3.1 
3.1 
4.5 


20 






21 






22 

23 


1.4 


o46 


24 






25 




26 




27 




28 




29 


.9 

.88 
.88 




30 




31 










Mean 




«'22.3 
12.4 
12.4 




11.8 
6.66 
7.66 




C5.2 


Run-oflE per square mile 








2.89 


Ruu-oflf, depth in inches 








1.93 








, 





a Not included in mean. 



i>27 days. 



c 18 days. 



GRAND CENTRAL RIVER. 



29 



GRAND CENTRAL RIVER BELOW THE FORKS. 

This station was established to obtain the total flow from the 
headwaters of Grand Central River and also to ascertain the amount 
that can be diverted over the Nugget divide, as there is but little 
water coming into the stream between the measuring section and 
the proposed pipe and ditch intakes. At ordinary stages the 
river at the measuring point is 50 feet wide, 2 feet deep, and has a 
mean velocity of 1.2 second-feet. Gage readings were taken by 
employees of the Wild Goose Minhig and Trading Company. 

Discharge measwements of Grand Central River below theforJ^s in 1906. 
[Elevation, 680 feet.] 



Date. 



July 1 
July 11 
July 24 
July 24 



Gage 


Dis- 


height. 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec. feet. 


0.95 


63 


1.40 


180 


1.29 


140 


1.22 


129 



Date. 



July 26... 
August 7 . 
August 17 



Gage Dis- 

height. charge. 



Feet. 
1.10 



.79 



Sec. feet. 
101 
66 
• 54.4 



Mean daily gage height and discharge of Grand Central River below the forks, 1906. 
[Drainage area, 14.6 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 




Feet. 

0.95 

.9 

.95 

1.05 

1.87 


Sec-feet. 
63 
56 
63 
80 
370 


Feet. 

0.9 

.9 

.9 

.95 


Sec-feet. 
67 
67 
67 
74 
74 
67 
79 
73 
67 
65 
66 
68 
65 
62 


Feet. 
1.1 
1.05 
1.0 
.95 
.93 


Sec-feet. 
100 


9 


91 


3 


82 


4 


74 


5. . 


72 




.9 
.98 
.94 
.9 


67 


7 








63 


8 









59 


9 


1.75 

1.7 

1.45 


325 

300 

198 

280 

198 

187 

168 

160 

180 

100 

91 

100 

100 

82 

143 

145 

118 

100 

100 

100 

82 

82 

67 


.8 


55 


10 


54 


11 




.78 
.75 
.75 
.75 
.72 
.71 


53 


12 




50 


13 


1.45 
1.42 




50 


14 




50 


15 




59 


48 


16. 


.81 
.79 


56 
54 
54 
53 
53 
65 
59 
210 
96 
86 
140 
210 
135 
135 
111 
104 


47 


17 


1.4 

1.1 

1.05 

1.1 

1.1 

1.0 

1.28 

1.29 

1.18 

1.1 


47 


18 




54 


19 








20 


.78 






21 






22 




1.72 i o310 


23 






24 


1.08 
1.02 




25 




26 




27. 






28 


1.1 

1.0 

1.0 

.9 


1.25 
1.25 
1.15 
1.12 


1 


29 




30 




31 














Mean . . 




6 144 
9.86 
10.27 




85.2 
5.84 
6.73 




c62 










4.25 


Run-off, depth in inches.. 








2.84 














a Not included in mean. 



28 days. 



c 18 days. 



Note.— The interpolated discharge of Aug. 21-23 and 26-27 are 40 to 45 per cent of the flow at the sta- 
tion below Nugget Creek. This is about the proportion that holds for higher water. Other interpola- 
tions are made by comparison with the West Fork and Crater Lake outlet stations. 



30 WATER SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA. 
GRAND CENTRAL RIVER BELOW NUGGET CREEK. 

This station was established on June 30, but it was not possible to 
obtain regular gage readings until August 12, after which date the 
gage was read once each day by A. W. Peterson. At low water the 
river at this point is about 50 feet wide, 1 to 2 feet deep, and has a 
mean velocity of about 2 feet per second. It is impossible to obtain 
measurements above gage height 1.2 feet by wading. The estimates 
at this station give practically the total flow of Grand Central River 
into Salmon Lake. 

Discharge mtasurements of Grand Central River helow Nugget Creek, 1906. 



Date. 



June 24.. 
June 30.. 
July?.... 
August 4. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



0.57 

.98 
.46 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec-feet. 
313 
148 
286 
123 



Date. 



August 28... 
September 9. 
September 14 



height. 



Feet. 
1.10 
.46 
.36 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec-feet. 
324 
121 
101 



Mean daily gage height and discharge of Grand Central River below Nugget Creek, 1906. 

[Drainage area, 39 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 
0.5 
.45 


Sec-feet. 
132 
120 


Feet. 


Sec-feet. 


Feet. 
0.8 
.75 
.65 
.6 
.6 
.55 
.5 
.5 
.45 
.42 
.4 
.4 
.38 
.35 
.35 
.3 
.3 
.4 
1.2 
2.6 
2.2 
1.6 
1.6 
1.35 
1.15 


Sec-feet. 
220 


2. 






204 


3 






172 


4 










157 


5. 










157 












]44 


7 










132 


8 










132 


9 










120 


10. 


1.9 


750 






114 


11 


^ 




109 


12 


1.55 


545 


0.5 
.5 
.5 
.4 
.42 
.45 
.4 
.35 
.5 
.55 
.5 

1.5 
.8 
.7 

1.05 

1.5 

1.1 
.95 
.9 
.8 


132 
132 
132 
109 
114 
120 
109 
100 
132 
144 
132 
520 
220 
187 
310 
520 
330 
272 
255 
220 


109 


13 


105 


14 






100 


15 






100 


16 






90 


17 






90 


18. . . . 






109 


19 






375 


20 . 






1,230 


21 

22 


.8 


157 


950 
570 


23 






570 


24 






445 


25 






352 


26 


,5 


132 




27. 






28 










29 






- 




30 










31 




























a 210 
5.38 
4.00 




6 274 


Run-ofl per square mile 










7.03 


Run-oli depth in inches 










6. 54 















a 20 days. 



b 25 days. 



GRAND CENTRAL RIVER. 



31 



GOLD RUN. 

Gold Run enters Grand Central River from the east 2 miles below 
the forks. It drains a deep gulch, has a very steep grade, and termi- 
nates in a large gravel fan, where its flow sinks and disappears. 

In order to determine the quantity of water from this stream avail- 
able for diversion across the Nugget divide a station was established 
at an elevation of about 800 feet. 

Mean daily gage height and discharge of Gold Run, 1906. 
[Elevation, 800 feet.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 1 Dis- 
height. 1 charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage Dis- 
height. charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec-feet. 

a 13 
13 
20 


Feet. 


Sec-feet. 
18 
18 
18 


Feet. 


Sec-feet. 
30 


2 






0.95 


6 26 


3 






23 


4 







20 

24 

30 

6 34 




20 


5 








17 





! 






16 




i 


1.03 




15 


8 




.90 1 6 22 
.89 1 621 




14 

13 

a 12 


9. 






10 


1 




20 


.71 


11 




52 
o69 

55 

45 

40 

38 

42 

24 

20 

22 

23 
18.5 
6 30 

30 
a 30 
6 24 

24 

21 

90 




20 

24 

22 

20 

18 
617 
6 16.5 

16 




12 


12 


1.21 






12 


13 






11 


14. 








11 


15 








11 


16 




.si 

.8 




10 


17. 






10 


18 






12 


19. 


.'84" 

1.0 

i.'oo 

.93 




16 
15 
28 
34 
50 
34 

6 29' 
44 
68 

a 51 
40 
36 
32 






20 








21 




I 


22. 






23 






24 




j 


25 


.99 






26 






27.. 








28 


1.13 




29 




30. 


19 

18 






31 












Mean 


c 29. 




27.6 




dl5. 3 













o Measurements. 

6 Estimates based on gage heights. Other estimates were made by plotting a hydrograph pa.ssing 
through the known points and following the rise and fall of the other streams in the vicinitj'. Gagings 
made on Jime 20 gave 22 second-feet and on June 25, 24 second-feet. 

c 25 days. 

d 18 days. 

THOMPSON CREEK. 



Thompson Cre§k enters Grand Central River from the west about 
2 miles below the forks. It drains a small glacial cirque almost 
wholly surrounded by very steep walls ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 
feet high. Measurements were made at a point with an elevation 
of 720 feet, which gives the amount of water available for diversion 
over the Nugget divide. 



32 WATER SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA. 

Daily gage height and discharge of Thompson Creek, 1906. 
[Elevation, 720 feet; drainage area, 2.5 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage. 
Height. 


Dis- 
charp-e. 


Gage 
Height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
Heght. 


■ Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec-feet. 
11 

all 

11 

16 


Feet. 


Sec-feet. 
9 
9 

10 

10 

11 

15 
6 22.5 
6 14 
12.5 

11 

11 

17 

14 

12 

11 

6 9.6 
610 

10 

10 
9 

20 

20 

40 
6 23 

21 

28 

30 

28 
6 25.4 

22 

20 


Feet. 


Sec-feet. 
l9 


2. ... 








14 


3 


» 




12 


4. 








8 


5 








7 


6 










7 


7 






1.39 
1.22 
1.19 




7 








6 


9. 






1.0 
1.00 


6 6.2 


10 






a 6. 2 


11. 




36 
a 52 

40 

30 

24 , 

28 . 

23 

19 

16 

16 

18 
613 

21 
25 
a 23 
6 17.5 

16 

14 

11 

11 

10 




6 


12 








6 


13 








6 


14 








5 










5 


16. 




1.11 
1.12 




5 


17 






5 


18. . 






6 


19 










20 










21 










22 


1.2 








23 








24 


1.42 
1.41 
1.29 


1.4 






25. 






26 








27. 






28 








29 




1.44 




30 






31 
















Mean 




C20.5 
8.20 
7.62 




16.6 
6.64 
7.66 




d7.Q 


Run-off per square mile ... 








3.04 


Run-off, depth in inches 








2.10 













a Measurements. 

6 Estimates based on gage heights. Other estimates were made by plotting a hydrograph passing 
through the known points and following the rise and fall of Crater Lake outlet, whose basin adjoins 
that of Thompson Creek and is of a similar character. A measurement on June 25 gave 42 second-feet. 

c 25 days. 

d 18 days. 

NUGGET AND COPPER CREEKS. 

Nugget Creek rises in the divide between Nome River and Grand 
Central River and empties its waters and those of its tributary, 
Copper Creek, into Grand Central River about 2 miles above Salmon 
Lake. 

The headwaters of both Nugget and Copper creeks are quite pre- 
cipitous and are said to be fed by springs in limestone. Measure- 
ments were made on Nugget Creek at an elevation of 785 feet at the 
poiat of the diversion of its waters over the Nugget divide by the 
Grand Central ditch. 

The flow of Copper Creek is also tappea by a branch of the Jett 
Creek ditch at an elevation of about 800 feet. 



GRAND CENTRAL DRAINAGE. 



33 



Discharge measurements of Nugget and Copper creeks in 1906. 
NUGGET CREEK. 
[Elevation, 785 feet.] 



June 18. 
June 19. 
June 21 . 
June 28. 
July 12.. 



Date. 



Elevation 
of point of 
measure- 
ment. 



Feet. 



Discharge. 



Sec. -feet. 
1.8 
l.G 
4.4 
.96 
6.8 



Date. 



August 11 

August 29 

September 2.. 
September 7.. 
September 14. 



Elevation | 
ment. 



Feet. 



Sec-feet. 
3.0 
8.6 
6.8 
6.1 
4.4 



COPPER CREEK. 


June 18 . 


700 
800 
700 
700 


3.8 
8.7 
11.6 
11.3 


July 21 

August 11 


800 
800 
800 
800 


2.4 


June 19 


.8 


June 21 


August 31 


6.6 


July 12 


September 10 


2.4 









JETT CREEK. 

Jett Creek enters Grand Central River from the south. It has a 
short drainage and is made up of a ser^ies of falls and rapids. Water 
is diverted over the Nugget divide into Nome River by the Jett Creek 
ditch (see p. 19 for measurements on Jett Creek ditch). 

Measurements were made to show the amount of water avail- 
able at the diversion. 



Discharge measurements of Jett Creek in 1906. 
[Elevation, 800 feet.] 



Date. 



June 19 
July 2.. 
July 12. 



Discharge. 



Sec-feet. 

14.9 

4,4 

14.3 



Date. 



July 21 

August 31.. . 
September 10 



Discharge. 



Sec-feet. 
5.8 
8.3 
4.2 



MORNING CALL CREEK. 

Morning Call Creek enters Grand Central River from the south 
near Salmon Lake. The hills to the south are lower and more exposed 
than in the case of Copper and Jett creeks, and the snow melts earlier 
in the spring. At low water all the flow disappears in the previous 
limestone above the point where a ditch intended to cross the Nugget 
divide would have its intake. The water appears again near the 
contact with the schist, at an elevation of about 750 feet. 



Discharge measurements of Morning Call Creek in 1906. 



Date. 



Eleva- 
tion of 
point of 
measure- 
ment. 



June 20 
June 20 
June 24 



Feet. 
700 
900 
500 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec-feet. 
36 

24.6 
27.3 



Date. 



July 2... 
July 12.. 
August 9 



Eleva- 
tion of 
point of 
measure- 
ment. 



Dis- 
charge. 



Feet. Sec-feet. 

700 10.0 

700 20.8 

900 0.0 



IRR 196—07- 



34 WATER SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA. 

SALMON LAKE. 

Salmon Lake lies at the foot of the Kigluaik Mountains at an eleva- 
vation of about 442 feet. It has a water surface area of 1,800 acres 
and a drainage area of 81 square miles. Its principal supply comes 
from Grand Central River, which enters it at its western end. A 
number of small streams also enter the lake from both the north and 
the south, but with the exception of Fox Creek and Jasper Creek these 
are of minor importance. The outlet of the lake is through Kruz- 
gamepa River. 

This lake offers an excellent opportunity for a storage reservoir 
for power purposes and mining along Kruzgamepa River. The use 
of its water in the vicinity of Nome is practically prohibited owing to 
its low elevation and the long tunnel which would be necessary to 
bring the water through the Nugget divide into the Nome River 
basin. By raising the water of the lake to an elvation of 500 feet the 
shortest tunnel line would be between 5 and 6 miles long; and if any 
allowance be made for drawing on the storage, water could not be 
brought through to the Nome Valley at an elevation greater than 
about 450 feet. The mouth t)f the tunnel would be near Dorothy 
Creek, and the loss in grade between there and Nome would bring the 
water so low that it could not be used to any extent for hydraulicking. 
Even if the water could be brought to the vicinity of Nome under a 
sufficient head for hydraulicking, the great cost and difficulty of build- 
ing so long a tunnel would make the feasibility of the plan very 

doubtful. 

Measurement of flow in and out of Salmon Lalce in 1906. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Discharge. 


June 22 


Rainbow Creek 


Sec-feet. 
3.4 


Do 


Fox Creek . 


99 


Do 




aQ 


June 24 


Jasper Creek 


11.6 


Do 


Morning Call Creek 


27 


Do 


Jett Creek 


a 10 


Do 


6 small streams from south 


a4 


Do 




313 




Total 






474 






425 









a Estimated. 
Note.— The stage of Salmon Lake remained practically constant June 22-24, inclusive. 

A measurement on Fox Creek on August 16 gave a discharge of 
17.3 second-feet. 

KRUZGAMEPA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN BELOW SALMON LAKE. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



Kruzgamepa, or Pilgrim, River, the outlet of Salmon Lake, has a 
larger discharge than any other stream in this section. For about 12 
miles it follows a valley ranging from 6 to 12 miles in width, and 



KRUZGAMEI'A RIVER. 35 

then enters the h)vvhin(i8 north of the Kigluaik Range, and finally 
discharges into Iniiindv Basin. The principal tributaries are Crater, 
Grouse, and Homes take creeks from the north and Iron Creek from tlie 
south. 

As it leaves Salmon Lake the river flows through a narrow outlet 
having a width of 150 feet at the bottom and 500 feet at the top, 
offering an excellent dam site and location for a hydro-electric power 
plant. Plans for the construction of such a plant have been per- 
fected by the Salmon Lake Power Company, which plans to develop 
3,000 horsepower, to be used on dredges at Nome and Council and 
on Solomon River. 

Salmon Lake, at its present level, 442 feet, covers 1,800 acres; if 
raised to a level of 475 feet it would cover 3,600 acres; and at 500 
feet, 4,600 acres. The reservoirs thus formed ma}^ be used for the 
storage of the water of the floods caused by the melting snow in 
the spring and the occasional heavy rains in the summer. The 
water thus retained will give a large minimum flow not only in sum- 
mer but also during the winter months, when the natural run-off 
becomes small. 

Kruzgamepa River seldom freezes over before the first of January, 
and it is probable that with proper installation power could be 
developed throughout the year. 

KRUZGAMEPA RIVER AT OUTLET OF SALMON LAKE. 

A gaging station was established at Leland's camp, about 100 yards 
below the lake. During th.'i spring flood a temporary gage had been 
set by Mr. John P. Samuelson and read twice a day. Float measure- 
ments were also made, which gave a discharge considerably smaller 
than the open-water flow, showing a backwater effect caused b}^ snow 
banks in the channel below. This effect became less as the water fell 
and the snow banks melted. 

A new gage was set June 23, with its datum 3 feet below that of the 
temporar}^ gage. The old gage heights were reduced to the datum of 
the new^ gage by adding 3 feet. A tagged wire stretched across the 
river gave distances from the initial point. Measurements were made 
by wading at low water and up to a gage height of 1 .5 feet. At higher 
stages it was impossible to reach the middle of the stream, because of 
the depth and velocity of the water, and float measurements were 
resorted to. 

The gage was read twice daily by Mr. John P. Samuelson. The 
natural storage in the lake regulated the flow, making the rise and fall 
very gradual, and the gage readings give the mean height of the lake 
very closely. 

A change in channel occurred during the high water of July 8 to 9, 
the soundings showing a scour in the middle of the gaging section of 



36 WATER SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA. 

about 0.2 foot, and the increase in velocity indicating an even greater 
scour below. No low-water measurements could be obtained after 
the high water of September 21 to 23, but it is believed that no change 
occurred. 

Discharge measurements of Kruzgamepa River at outlet of Salmon Lake in 1906. 



June 23 

June 29 

June 30 

July 9 

Do 

July 10 

August 4 

August 15... 
August 25... 
August 26. . . 
August 28. . . 
September 1 . 
September 7 . 
September 17 
September 21 
September 23 
September 24 



Area of 
section. 


Mean 
velocity. 


Gage 
height. 


Discharge. 


Squarefeet. 


Ft. per sec. 


Feet. 


Second-feet. 


183 


2.32 


1.22 


425 


170 


2.08 


1.00 


353 


157 


2.01 


.93 


315 


431 


5.43 


3.18 


2,340 


412 


5.09 


3.02 


2,094 


372 


4.73 


2.68 


1,760 


117 


1.81 


.38 


212 


116 


1.80 


.37 


209 


148 


2.11 


.70 


312 


159 


2.33 


.80 


371 


. 184 


2.49 


1.02 


458 


164 


2.27 


.85 


373 


127 


1.95 


.52 


248 


108 


1.62 


.27 


175 


336 


4.61 


2.38 


1,546 


299 


3.76 


2.06 


1,124 


269 


3.44 


1.80 


925 



Mean daily gage height and discharge of Kruzgamepa River at Salmon Lake. 
[Drainage area, 81 square miles.] 





May. 


June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 




Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage Dis- 
height. charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
3.05 
3.75 
3.9 
4.2 
3.75 
3.2 
2.45 


Sec.-ft. 
1,780 
2,270 
2,350 
2,520 
2,270 
1,920 
1,220 


Feet. 

0.82 

.72 

.7 

.7 

.8 

1.1 

1.1 

1.92 

3.05 

2.6 

2.2 

1.95 

1.85 

1.55 

1.45 

1.25 

1.12 

1.08 

.98 

.9 

.82 

.85 

.82 

.85 

.82 

.8 

.72 

.7 

.62 

.55 

.5 


Sec.-ft. 
272 
241 
235 
235 
265 
380 
380 
1,030 
2,130 
1,640 
1,275 
1,065 
985 
768 
702 
582 
511 
490 
441 
405 
369 
382 
369 
382 
369 
360 
328 
320 
288 
262 
245 


Feet. 
0.48 
.42 
.38 
.36 
.38 
.38 
.4 
.4 
.4 
.36 
.35 
.35 
.36 
.34 
.36 
.35 
.32 
.3 
.26 
.32 
.39 
.42 
.66 
.71 
.7 
.76 
.9 
1.02 
1.05 
.99 
.94 


Sec.-ft. 
239 
221 
209 
203 
209 
209 
215 
215 
215 
203 
200 
200 
203 
197 
202 
200 
197 
185 
175 
191 
212 
221 
304 
324 
320 
344 
405 
460 
475 
446 
423 


Feet. Sec.-ft. 

. 86 387 


2 . .. 






. 81 364 


3 






. 74 336 


4 






. 69 316 


5 






. 65 300 


6 






.6 280 


7 






. 53 256 


8 






. 49 242 


9 










. 46 233 


10 










. 41 218 


11 










. 39 212 


12 










.37 206 


13 . . 










.34 

.31 

.3 

.28 

.26 

.27 

.52 

1.34 

2.35 

2.4 

2.11 

1.78 

1.58 

1.38 

1.22 

1.08 

.98 

.88 


197 


14 










188 


15 










185 


16 










180 


17 










175 


18 










178 


19 








. 


252 


20 










634 


21 










1,410 


22 










1,455 


23 






1.2 
1.25 
1.2 
1.12 
1.1 
1.05 
1.02 
.92 


420 
442 
420 
388 
380 
360 
348 
308 


1,198 


24 






930 


25. 






787 


26 






658 


27 






566 


28 


5.45 
5.0 
4.05 
3.6 


3,270 
3,000 
2,430 
2,180 


490 


29 


441 


30 


396 


31 


















2,720 

33.6 

5.00 

21,600 


a 2, 050 
25.3 
6.59 

28,500 


6 383 
4.73 
1.41. 

6,040 




571 

7.05 

8.13 

35,100 




259 

3.20 

3.69 

15,900 




456 


Run-off per square 




5.63 


Run-off, depth in 
i)iches 




6.28 


Run-off in acre- 
feet . . . 




27, 100 









o June 1 to 7. 



6June23to30. 



KRUZGAMEPA RIVER DRAINAGE. 



37 



CRATER CREEK. 

Crater Creek is the first large tributary entering Kruzgamepa River 
from the north. It rises in mountains that reach an elevation of 
nearly 4,000 feet. The topography and general character of its basin 
closely resemble those of the Grand Central River. (See page 23.) 
It drains many small lakes, but none of any considerable size. This 
stream has good possibilities for water-power development. Meas- 
urements were made at an elevation of about 550 feet. 

Discharge measurements of Crater Creek in 1906. 
[Elevation 550 feet.] 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



August 5.. 
August 15. 
August 27 . 



I Feet. 



0.45 
1.30 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec-feet. 

67 

57 

290 



Date. 



September 1.. 
September 8.. 
September 16. 



Gage Dis- 

height. charge. 



Feet. Sec-feet. 

0.71 110 

.45 i 55 

.35 : 39 



IRON CREEK. 

Iron Creek rises in an area of limestone and schist hills of no great 
elevation lying between Salmon Lake and the headwaters of Casade- 
paga and Eldorado rivers. It is formed by the junction of Eldorado 
and Telegram creeks. Its principal tributaries are Discovery and 
Canyon creeks, both from the southwest. The portion of the stream 
above Discovery Creek is sometimes called Dome Creek. Iron 
Creek empties into Kruzgamepa River about 12 miles below Salmon 
Lake. 

Several mines are being worked successfully on this stream and its 
tributaries. During 1906 the Gold Beach Development Company 
built a ditch 13 miles long, which diverts water from Eldorado, Dis- 
covery, and Canyon creeks, for use on Discovery No. 1 and No. 2 
claims on Iron Creek. 



Measurements of Iron Creek and tributaries in 1906. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Elevation. 


Discharge. 


August 14 


Iron Creek 


Feet. 
450 
425 
630 
630 
750 
750 
740 
740 
760 
760 


Sec-feet, 
an 1 


September 15... 


do 


a 26 1 


August 14 


Iron (Dome) Creek 


6 


September 15... 


do 


5 


August 13 


Eldorado Creek 


4.5 


September 15... 


do 


5 6 


August 13 

September 15. . . 


Discovery Creek 

.. .do ■ 


1.25 
2 3 


August 13 

September 15. . . 


Canyon Creek 

do 


1.3 
1 1 










o Below Canyon Creek. 



88 WATER SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA. 
IMURUK BASIN DRAINAGE. 

The following measurements were made on streams tributary to 
Imuruk basin to determine their availability and value for water- 
power development. They rise on the northerly slope of the north- 
ernmost ridge of the Kigluaik Range and are fed by large banks of 
perpetual snow. 





Measurements on streams tributary to Imuruk basin in 1906. 




Date. 


Stream. j Elevation. 


Drainage 
area. 


Discharge. 


September 5. .. 
Do... 


Fall Creek 


! Feet. 
! 1,208 


Sq. miles. 

3 

2 


Sec-feet. 
34 


Glacier Creek 


! 1,212 


10 


Do 


Snow Gulch 


! 1,212 

1 


9 7 







SINUK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



Sinuk River has its headwaters on the southern slope of the Kig- 
luaik Range, adjacent to those of Grand Central River and Thompson 
and Buffalo creeks. It flows in a southwest direction, entering 
Bering Sea near Cape Rodney. The upper portion of its drainage 
basin is mountainous, the greater part of it having an elevation of 
over 1,000 feet. The upper valley contains a large amount of glacial 
debris and rock slide. Below the mouth of Stewart River, which 
is the principal tributary, the valley widens out and is almost flat. 
The principal tributaries to the upper stream are Windy Creek and 
the outlet of Glacial Lake from the north and Stewart River from 
the south. 

Owing to inability to secure a gage reader it was only possible to 
make occasional measurements of streams in this drainage. A suf- 
ficient number, however, were made to obtain a fair estimate of the 
flow. These estimates are given on page 45. 

ADDITIONAL WATER SUPPLY FOR NOME. 

Owing to the mountainous character of the drainage basin, which 
insures a well-sustained flow, the upper Sinuk River, with its tribu- 
taries. North Star and Windy creeks, offers an attractive additional 
high-level water supply for Nome. 

This water can be brought into the Nome River drainage for use 
near Nome in four ways: (1) By high-line ditches. These would run 
either across the Buffalo divide, which has an elevation of 1,01? 
feet, into Hudson Creek; or over the Slate Creek divide, elevation 989 
feet, down to Stewart River, and hence over the Divide Creek divide, 
elevation 722 feet, to Nome River; or over the Silver Creek divide, 
elevation 910 feet, into Stewart River, and hence over the Divide 
Creek divide to Nome River. The feasibility of such high-level 



MEASUREMENTS OF SFNITK RTVER DRAINAGE. 



89 



ditches is questionable, as it would be necessary to tap the streams 
near their sources, where the water supply is nuich less than lower 
down, and ditching for such a plan would be very difficult and ex})en- 
sive on account of the large amount of loose rock that would be 
encountered. 

(2) By pipe line, ditch, and tunnel over Divide Creek divide. This 
is the most attractive plan. The most feasible route would start 
from Windy Creek, at an elevation of about 820 feet, just below the 
upper lake, and carry the water by pipe line around the rocky point 
to near North Star Creek, then by ditch across North Star Creek to 
Sinuk River, at an elevation of 770 feet. Taking the water from 
Sinuk River just below the upper lake, the ditch would continue 
down the valley, reaching Silver Creek divide at an elevation of 753 
feet. At this elevation a tunnel about 5,800 feet long would carry 
the water through the divide to Stewart River, where it could be 
taken by ditch over Divide Creek into Nome River. 

(3) By pipe line, ditch, and tunnel by Goldbottom Creek. This line 
is the same as in plan (2), as far as the outlet of the tunnel through 
Silver Creek divide. From this point the water would be taken by 
ditch around the head of Stewart River down to Goldbottom Creek, 
and thence over the divide to Miocene flume. 

(4) By ditch and siphon. The ditch would follow the north side 
of th6 ridge between Sinuk and Stewart rivers to its west end. then 
along its south side to near Francisco Creek; thence by siphon across 
Stewart River, and by ditch over the divide into Goldbottom Creek, 
to a point near Miocene flume. 

The table below gives the length of ditch, pipe, and tunnel for the 
sections of the thi^ee latter routes, together with the elevation of the 
beginning and ending of each section. This was prepared from the 
Grand Central special topographic sheet, published by the United 
States Geological Survey as part of the topographic atlas of the 
United States. 

Length of ditch, pijie, and tunnel necessary to carry water from Sinuk Hirer to Miocene 

flume. 

BY TUNNEL AND DIVIDE CREEK.. 



Section. 


Kind of con- 
struction. 


Length. 


Fall per 
mile. 


Total 
fall. 


Elevation 
above sea level. 




Intake). 


Outlet. 




/Pipe 


Miles. 
1.8 
a 4.1 
4.2 
1.1 
().5 
14.3 


Feet. 
15 
4.5 
4 

(J 

4 

3-7 


Feet. 
27 
18 
17 

7 
26 
86 


Feet. 
820 
793 
770 
753 
746 
562 


Feet. 
793 




\Ditch. 








Sinuk River to tunnel 


do. 


753 


Sinuk River through to Silver Creek 

Silver Creek to Divide Creek 


Tunnel 

Ditch. . . 


746 
720 


Divide Creek to flume ... 


do 


476 




Ditch 






29.1 

1.8 

. 1.1 




Total . . . 


-(Pipe 






[Tunnel 





a 2.1 mile of ditch may be avoided by carrying the water of Windy Creek in a siphon 3,500 feet long 
across Sinuk River. 



40 WATEfe SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA. 

Length of ditch, pipe, and tunnel necessary to carry water from Sinuk River to Miocene 

/w-me— Continued. 

BY TUNNEL AND GOLDBOTTOM CREEK. 



Section. 


Kind of con- 
struction. 


Length. 


Fall per 
mile. 


Total 
fall. 


Elevation 
above sea level. 




Intake. 


Outlet. 


Wi:pdy Creek to Sinuk River 


{dS'."::;;;: 

do 


Miles. 
1.8 
04.1 
4.2 
LI 
6 12.4 
9.2 


Feet. 
15 
4.5 


Feet. 

27 
18 
17 
7 

51 
37 


Feet. 
820 
793 
770 
753 
705 
513 


Feet. 
793 


Sinuk River to tunnel 


775 
753 


Sinuk River through to Silver Creek 

Silver Creek to Goldbottom Creek 

Goldbottom Creek to flume 


Tunnel... 

Ditch 

do 


746 
654 
476 




(Ditch 

-^Pipe 

[Tunnel 




Total 


29.9 
L8 
1.1 









BY DITCH AND SIPHONS ACROSS STEWART RIVER AND GOLDBOTTOM CREEK. 



Windy Creek to Sinuk River 

Sinuk River to Siphon 

Near Francisco Creek to below Mountain 
Creek. 

Siphon to Goldbottom divide 

Goldbottom Creek to flume 



Total . 



Pipe. . 
Ditch. 
...do. 
Pipe.. 

Ditch. 
...do. 



/Ditch. 
iPipe.. 



L8 


15 


27 


820 


04.1 


4.5 


18 


793 


20.0 


4 


80 


770 


L5 


35 


52 


690 


'2.0 


4 


8 


638 


9.2 


4 


37 


513 


35.3 


3.3 









793 

775 



638 



e.'^o 

476 



a 2.1 miles of ditcM may be avoided by carrying the water of Windy Creek in a siphon 3,500 feet long 
across Sinuk River. 
6 6.1 miles of ditch may be replaced by 1.2 miles of siphon across Stewart River. 

UPPER SINUK RIVER. 

The gagings on the upper Sinuk were made at an elevation of 770 
feet, and show the probable water supply which could be diverted 
from this stream for any of the plans just described. 

Discharge measurements of upper Sinuk River in 1906. 
[Elevation, 770 feet; drainage area, 6.2 square miles.] 



Date. 



June 27 
July 6. 
July 20 



Discharge. 



Sec-feet. 
33 
37 
36 



Date. 



August 3.. 
August 10. 



Discharge. 



Sec-feet. 
20 
23.5 



WINDY CREEK. 



Windy Creek, the first large tributary of Sinuk River, lies between 
the main ridge of the Kigluaik Mountains and the headwaters of the 
Sinuk. It adjoins the west fork of Grand Central River, from which 
it may be reached by crossing a high divide. The topography is very 
rough, the cr^ k being entirely lost in some places in the large bowl- 
ders which form its bed. 



SINUK RIVER DRAINAGE. 

Discharge measurements of Windy Creek in 1906. 



41 



Date. 



June 21 . 
June 27. 
July 13. 
July 20. 



Elevation 
at point of 
measure- 
ment. 



1,100 

1,100 

650 

050 



Discharge. 



Sec-feet. 



17 
114 



Date. 



August 3 

August 10... 
September 6 . 



Elevation 
at point of 
measure- 
ment. 



650 
650 
650 



Dischargcv 



Sec-feet. 
32 
b35 
6 32 



n Drainage area, 12 square miles. 



b Estimated. 



NORTH STAR CREEK. 



North Star Greek lies between Sinuk River and Windy Creek, and 
is a tributary to the latter near its mouth. It is a small stream with 
a steep slope. 

Discharge measurements of North Star Creek in 1906. 
[Elevation, 900 feet; drainage area, 2.3 square miles.] 



Date. 


Discharge. 


Date. 


Discharge. 


June 27 


Sec-feet. 
9.8 
18.1 
16.4 


July 20 


Sec-feet. 
3.9 


July6 

July 13 


August 3 


3.0 
2.9 









STEWART RIVER. 

Stewart River lies south of upper Sinuk River, to which it is tribu- 
tary. It drains an area of limestone and schist hills. The flow is 
small and the stream of minor importance. 

Discharge rneasurements of Stewart River in 1906. 
[Elevation, 400 feet.] 



Date. 


Discharge. 


Date. 


Discharge. 


July 15 


Sec-feet. 
72 
49 


July 30. .. 


Sec-feet, 
a 26 


July 17.. 


August 19 


11.4 









a Estimated. 
SLATE CREEK. 

Slate Creek is the second tributary to Stewart River from the north. 
The following gives approximate measurements of the flow that can 
be diverted into Nome River over Divide Creek: 

Discharge measurements of Slate Creek in 1906. 
[Elevation, 700 feet; drainage area, 2.1 square miles.] 



Date. 



July 15. 
July 17. 



Discharge. 



Sec-feet. 
6.7 
4.4 



Date. 



July 30... 
August 19. 



Discharge. 



Sec-feet. 
2.8 
2.2 



42 WATER SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA. 
OTHER SINUK RIVER DRAINAGE. 

For measurements on Josie^ Irene, and Jessie creeks, which are 
small tributaries of Stewart River, see below. 



CRIPPLE RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. ' 

Cripple River enters Bering Sea about 12 miles west of Nome, after 
draining an area of about 88 square miles. 

Ao yet but little mining has been done in this section, except in the 
vicinity of Oregon and Hungry creeks. Some small ditches have 
been constructed at the headwaters of Cripple River, the principal 
one being the Cedric, which diverts water from the Stewart River 
drainage. 

CEDRIC DITCH. 

The Cedric ditch was built in 1905 to divert water from Josie and 
Jessie creeks (tributary to the Stewart River) over the divide to the 
Cripple River basin for use on Oregon, Hungry, Trilby, and Nugget 
creeks. After passing the divide it picks up water from upper 
Oregon (2 forks). Slate, and Aurora creeks, which are its principal 
feeders, and from Daisy Swift Creek, Snowshoe Gulch, and three 
other small gulches. It has a total length of about 19 miles and a 
width of from 4 to 8 feet. The elevation of the head is about 870 
feet and of the outlet 790 feet. The capacity of the lower half is 
about 25 second-feet. Water is carried across Oregon Creek near 
the outlet by a siphon 2,970 feet long, of 30-inch riveted steel pipe. 
There are about 6 miles of distributing ditches at the lower end. 

The following measurements were made to determine the amount 
of water available for the ditch: 

Water available for Cedric ditch in 1906. 



Stream. 


July 15-17. 


July 30-31. 


August 19. 


Josie Creek 


Sec-feet. 

3.0 

1.0 

b3.2 

6 6.8 

4.0 

4.8 

.5 


Sec-feet. 
1.5 
a. 8 
2.6 
2.6 
2.0 
2.1 


Sec-feet. 
1.1 


Irene Creek 


a. 4 


Jessie Creek. . 


.6 


Upper Oregon Creek 




Slate Creek 








Daisy Swift Creek 










Total available for ditch 


18.3 


n.6 









a Estimated. 

*> Measured below ditch, level; only about half this amount is available for the ditch. 



MEASUREMENTS OF FLOW. 



43 



Seepage measurements on Cedric ditch. 



Date. 


Point of measurement. 


Discharge. 


Loss. 

! 


Dis- ! Loss per 
tance. j mile. 


July 30 

Do 


Below upper Oregon Creek. . . 


Sec. -feet. 
2.G 
1.9 
3.9 
3.1 
5.2 
4.7 
4.5 
2.5 


Sec-feet. 


^files. Sec-feet. 


Above Slate Creek 


0.7 


2. 3 1 3 


Do . 


Below Slate Creek 




July 31 

Do 


Above Aurora Creek 


.8 , 


1.8 .4 






Do 


Above Daisy Swift Creek . . 


.5 

.2 

2.0 


2.0 .25 


Do 


Below Daisv Swift Creek 


6 3 


Do. 


At penstock ■. 


3. 7 .5 




Total 








4.2 


10. 4 i .4 








1 



PENNY RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 

Penny River enters Bering Sea a little east of the mouth ol Cripple 
River, and has a drainage area of 36 square miles. Its waters are 
being used by the United Mining Compan}^ on the tundra near the 
old beach, and are diverted by means of two ditches. 

The following measurements were made in the Penny River 
diainaoje: 



Date. 


Point of measurement. 


Elevation. 


Discharge. 


August 1 

Do 


Below intake of high-line ditch 


Feet. 
420 
120 
120 


Sec-feet. 
7.8 




30.0 


Do 


Pennv River below Sutton ditch intake 


6.2 









SNAKE RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 

Snake River empties into Bering Sea at Nome. It has a drainage 
area of 110 square miles, which contains some of the richest minmg 
ground in the Seward Peninsula, notably the claims on Glacier, Anvil, 
and Little creeks. Owing to the slight fall its use for mining purposes 
is limited to ground sluicing. All the available water from both the 
main stream and its tributaries is being used, and water is diverted 
into this area by the Miocene ditch, the Seward ditch, and the Nome 
River ditch of the Pioneer Mining Compan}^. 



FLAMBEAU AND ELDORADO RIVER DRAINAGE BASINS. 

These streams rise near Salmon Lake and flow in a southerly direc- 
tion to Bering Sea near Cape Nome. Because of their minor impor- 
tance, but one measurement was made upon them. The flow of 
Eldorado River was measured August 14 below the mouth of Venetia 
Creek and found to be 44 second-feet. 



44 WATER SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA. 

AVAIIiABLE WATER SUPPIiY DURING 1906. 

In order to determine the amount of water that could have been 
used during 1906 f or hydraulicking the placers near Nome, the mean 
flow of the streams in each drainage basin has been tabulated by 
weekly periods in the t^ble on page 45. In using this table the fol- 
lowing points should be noted: 

The ''high-level flow of Nome River" represents the total amount 
of water in that river above Miocene ditch, including the flow of 
Campion ditch, David Creek, and Hobson Creek. The flow of the 
springs on the latter creek has been taken as 14 second-feet, except 
for the first week in. July, when it did not exceed 10 second-feet. 

''Low-level flow, Nome River," includes all additional water down 
to the Pioneer ditch. This has been estimated on basis of drainage 
area as equal to 90 per cent of the naural flow at Miocene intake, plus 
about 3 second-feet at Hobson Creek. 

"Grand Central River" includes the station below the forks and 
those on Thompson Creek and Gold Run, and gives the amount that 
can be brought over the Nugget divide. 

The mean flow of "Nugget, Copper, and Jett creeks" gives the 
amount that can be brought over the Nugget divide, and was 
estimated from the few measurements obtained. 

The flow of ' ' Sinuk River and its tributaries, Windy and North 
Star creeks," has been estimated for an elevation of 800 feet, which is 
as low as the water can be taken over the divide into Nome River 
(see p. 39). 

The amount of this flow was obtained by taking 70 per cent of the 
flow of Grand Central River below the forks, this perceutage being 
determined as follows: 

Comparison of flow of Grand Central River below forks with that of Sinuk River and 
its tributaries at elevation 800 feet. 



Date. 



June 26, 27 . . 

July 6 

July 13 

July 20 

August 3... 
August 10. . 
September 6 



Sinuk 
River. 



Sec-feet. 
33 
37 
(75) 
36 
20 
23.5 
(20) 



Windy 
Creek. 



Sec. -feet. 
22 
(35) 
86 
36 
24- 
26 
24 



North 

Star 

Creek. 



Sec-feet. 
10 
18 
16 
4 
3 
3 
(3) 



Total. 



Sec-feet. 
65 
90 
177 
76 
47 

52.5 
47 



Grand 
Central 
below 
forks. 



Sec-feet. 
105 



198 
100 
67 
65 
67 



Sinuk, 

Windy, and 

Nortli Star 

in per cent 

of Grand 

Central. 



62 



The drainage areas of Grand Central River, Sinuk River, and 
Windy and North Star creeks lie adjacent to each other on the north 
and the south side, respectively, of Kigluaik Mountains. On the 
days when measurements of flow were made of the streams on 



AVAILABLE WATER SUPPLY. 



45 



both sides of the mountain it was found, as shown in the preceding 
table, that the flow on the south side was from 62 to 89 per cent 
of the flow on the north side. It is, therefore, conservative to say 
that the average combined flow of Sinuk River and Windy and 
North Star creeks will be 70 per cent of the flow of Grand Central 
River below the forks. 

The following table should not be taken as indicating the water 
that can be used. This will, of course, be limited by the capacity of 
ditches that can be built economically. In the ecnomical construc- 
tion of a ditch the size will depend largely upon the duration of the 
low-water flow. This will probably limit the size in most cases to 
twice the minimum, except for short ditches. 

Mean weekly water supply, in second-feet, available for use hack of Nome, 1906. 



Dates. 



Available 
for use at 
elevation 
250 to 275 
feet. 



Nome 

River low 

level. 



Available for use at elevation 400 to 450 feet. 



Nome 

River high 

level. 



Upper 

Grand 

Central, 

Thompson, andtJett 

and Gold creeks. 

Run. 



Nugget, 
Copper, 



Sinuk 

River, 
Windy and 
North Star 

creeks. 



Total. 



July 1-7 

July 8-14 

July 15-21 

July 22-28 

July 29- August 4 

August 5-11 

August 12-18 

August 19-25 

August 26-September 1. 

September 2-9 

September 9-18 

September 18-30 



Mean 

Maximum . 



Minimum. 



153 
343 
179 
156 
101 
108 

91 
138 
202 
101 

68 
250 



158 



110 



22 



42 



173 
90 
79 
50 
49 
42 
62 
94 
51 
36 

125 



36 



324 
796 
378 
325 
223 
236 
228 
352 
540 
287 
199 



375 
796 
199 



WATER 8UPPIjY AVAILABLE FOR OTHER YEARS AIS^D 

LOCAEITIES. 

But little definite information in regard to climatic and other con- 
ditions at Nome prior to 1900 is known. The climatic conditions of 
that year are described by the old residents as very similar to those 
for 1906, both being dry and warm seasons. The years 1901, 1902, 
1904, and 1905 are described as being wet and cold; 1903 was dry in 
the eastern portion of the peninsula. There were, therefore, two 
years of drought out of a total of seven, and it is probable that similar 
low-water periods will occur every few years. 

Notwithstanding the fact that the flow for 1906 was as a whole 
below the normal, there were weeks when it probably reached an 



46 WATER SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA. 

absolute summer maximum; for instance, the second week in July. 
The rain storm of July 8 was one of the severest which had been 
known in that section, and owing to the frozen condition of the 
ground practically all this rain ran off within a few days and gave a 
maximum high-water flow to nearly all the streams (see fig. 1) . In the 
weeks beginning August 16 and September 18 there was also consid- 
erable rain, and these weeks were probably typical of high water. 
The week beginning July 29 probably showed as small a flow as may 
be expected before the cold weather lessens the yield of high levels. 

The above-described conditions are due to the fact that the prin- 
cipal source of water supply of this country is the rainfall, which 
appears almost immediately in the streams. Therefore a very severe 
storm, even in a dry season, will give the same conditions of flow as a 
similar storm during a wet season. The above table of weekly flow, 
therefore, can be used as a general criterion for hydraulic development 
in this section. 

In order to predict what the flow would be in other areas similar to 
Seward Peninsula the following tables have been prepared, showing 
the absolute daily minimum and the mean monthly flow, in second- 
feet per square mile, for the various streams. 

These streams have been grouped into two classes: (1) those rising 
in foothills, having southern exposures and but few gulches in which 
snow can be stored; (2) streams rising in mountainous areas with 
northern exposures and many gulches in which snow is stored and 
held during the whole summer. 

The minimum and mean flow can be obtained, approximately, by 
multiplying the drainage area of a stream by the flow per square mile 
given in the tables for a stream of similar character. 

Minimum daily flow of streams in Seward Peninsula during 1906. 

STREAMS RISING IN FOOTHILLS. 



Stream. 



Iron Creek below mouth of Canyon Creek 

Eldorado River below mouth of Venetia Creek. 

Jett Creek 

Copper Creek 

Nugget Creek 

David Creek 

Dorothy Creek 

Hobson Creek 

Slate Creek (tributary of Stewart) 

Stewart River 

Penny River 



Eleva- 


Date. 


Minimum 


Drainage 


tion. 


flow. 


area. 


Feet. 




Sec-feet. 


Sq. miles. 


450 


Aug. 14 


17.1 


37 


400 


....do... 


44 


51 


800 


Sept. 10 


a 4. 2 


1.4 


800 


Aug. 11 


.8 


.85 


785 


June 28 


6.96 


2.1 


590 


Aug. 19 


3.3 


4.3 


500 


Aug. 18 


2.9 


2.7 


500 


July 4 


10.5 


2.6 


700 


Aug. 19 


2.2 


2.1 


400 


....do... 


11.4 


36 


120 


Aug. 1 


a 36 


19 



Minimum 

run-oflf 

per sq. 

mi. 



Sec-feet. 

0.46 
.86 

3 
.94 
.46 
.77 

1.1 
c4 

1.05 
.32 

1.9 



a Lowest measurements obtained. The flow was less on certain dates. 

b The lowest flow later in the season was 3.0 second-feet, or 1.4 second-feet per square mile, on August 11. 
c The flow of Hobson Creek is from large limestone springs whose catchment area may not coincide 
with the surface watershed. 



AVAILABLE WATEE SUPPLY. 



47 



Minimum daily Jlotr of streams in Seward Peninsula during 190(>~ Continued. 
STREAMS RISING IN KIGLUAIK MOUNTAINS. 



Stream. 



Grand Central River (North Fork) . 
Grand Central River (West Fork) . . 



Grand Central River below the forks 

Grand CWtral River below Nugget Creek 

Between station below the forks and station at Nug- 
get Creek 



Crater Lake outlet. 



Thompson Creek. 



Windy Creek 

North Star Creek. 

Sinuk River 

Buffalo Creek 

Nome River 

Fox Creek 



Crater Creek. 



Kruzganiepa River. 



Eleva- 
tion. 



'Feet. 
750 

850 

690 
455 



925 



■720 

650 
900 
770 
800 
575 
550 



442 



Date. 



Julv 1 
Sept. 15 

to 
Sept. 17 
Sept. 10 

to 
Sept. 17 
...do... 



...do... 

Sept. 15 

to 

,Sept. 17 
Sept. 16 

to 
[Sept. 17 
Aug. 3 
Aug. 10 
Aug. 3 
....do... 
Aug. 5 
Aug. 16 
[Sept. 16 

to 
[Sept. 17 
'Aug. 19 

to 
Sept. 17 



Minimum 
[inimum Drainage run-off 
flow. area. per sq. 

! mi. 



Sec-.feet. Sq. miles. 
23 I 5.4 



47 
90 
43 
3.1 



32 

2.9 
20 

9.1 
20 
17.3 



175 



14.6 
39 
24.4 
1.8 

2.5 

12 
2.3 
6.2 
4.4 

15 

11 



Sec-feet. 
4.3 

3.5 



3.1 
2.3 

1.76 
1.7 

2.0 

2.7 

1.26 

3.2 

2.1 

1.3 

1.6 



2.16 



Mean run-off, in second-feet per square mile, at gaging stations. 



Station. 



Drain- 



area. 



July 1-31. 



July 1-4 
and 11-31 



Aug. 1-31 



Sept. 1-30. 



Sept. 1-18 



Grand Central River (North Fork), ele- 
vation 750 feet 

Grand Central River (North Fork), ele- 
vation 1,030 feet 

Grand Central River (West Fork), ele- 
vation 860 feet 

Grand Central River'' (West Fork), ele- 
vation 1,010 feet 

Crater Lake outlet 

Thompson Creek 

Grand Central River below the forks 

Grand Central River below Nugget 
Creek 

Kruzgamepa River at outlet Salmon 
Lake 

Between Grand Central River below the 
forks and Kruzgamepa River stations. 

Nome River at Miocene intake 



Sq. mi. 

5.4 

2.3 

5.4 

2.8 

1.8 

2.5 

14.6 

39 

81 

66 
15 



7.05 
'3.43 



10.3 

9.64 
10.8 
8.20 



6.80 

11.9 

6.02 

4.96 
6.56 
6.64 
5.84 

a 4.42 

3.20 

2.62 
3.36 



5.63 



5.85 

9.65 

4.72 

3.36 
2.89 
3.04 
4.25 

3.36 

3.05 

2.79 



Approximate. 



DITCH AND PIPE I.INES. 

In order to bring the water to the gold-producing ground between 
Capes Nome and Rodney at sufficient elevation to be used for hydrau- 
licking and sluicing, nearly 300 miles of ditch and pipe line have 
been constructed and several extensive additional systems are now^ 
under construction or consideration. The first ditch in this section 
was built in 1901, by W. L. Leland and J. M. Davidson, from upper 



48 WATER SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA. 

Glacier Creek to Snow Gulch. This ditch demonstrated the prac- 
ticability of ditch systems in this country and was the beginning of 
the Miocene system. 

Ditches are usually built following the approximate contour with 
grades limiting the velocity to about 2 feet per second, which is as 
high as the material in this section will stand without scour. The 
ditches therefore are for the most part on slopes, and are con- 
structed by making a cut from 12 to 18 inches deep to grade at the 
lower bank. This bank is then built up by material from the exca- 
vation. The slopes of the banks are from 1 to 1 to 1^ to 1, ^pend- 
ing on the material. 

The work of constructing a ditch is usually divided into three 
classes: (1) Team work; (2) pick and shovel work; and (3) rock 
work. 

Teams may be used in handling dry soil that contains only medium 
sized rock. This is the fastest method, and the compacting of the 
lower banks by the horses and scrapers makes it much tighter than 
when the dirt is thrown in loose. 

Pick and shovel are used in loose rock, in wet soil, and in frozen 
ground from which the top is removed as it thaws from the surface. 

Rock must be blasted, unless it is fissured limestone, which may 
be loosened with the crowbar, or decomposed schist which yields to 
the pick. In building through solid rock, a shelf is blasted out 
about 1 foot below grade and wide enough to carry the ditch and 
the lower bank, which is built of rocks. The bottom and both sides 
are lined with sod about 1 foot thick, and are puddled with clay. 

In rock slide the method is similar. A good example of this kind 
of construction was seen on the Grand Central branch of the Miocene 
system. The clitch was built through a pile of large bowlders, 
unmixed with any soil or gravel. A trench was made 1 foot deeper 
and 2 feet wider than the finished ditch. The sides of the trench 
were lined with a slope wall, laid 1 to 1, to a height of 4 or 5 feet. 
The outer slope of the lower bank was also rock wall, laid somewhat 
flatter. The ditch will be lined with sod and will be tight and per- 
manent. 

The use of sod is very common and economical, and saves much 
piping and fluming that would otherwise be necessary. This sod 
in a short while settles and knits together, and thus becomes a very 
serviceable bank. It will not cut or wear out, and the older it gets 
the better it becomes. When, however, it becomes evident that 
the bottom of the ditch is cutting and wearing away, sodding 
must be resorted to, and by lining the bottom of the ditch with sod 
the trouble may soon be overcome. In this way a ditch can be made 
over perpetually frozen ground, where otherwise it would be impos- 
sible. Much ditch has to be constructed over loose stones with little 



DITCH AND PIPE LINES. 49 

or no sediment between them. In this case the ditch must be hned 
with sod and all holes must be filled by tamping sod into them as far 
as possible. This being done, it will be found that the water travel- 
ing through the ditch will deposit sediment over the sod and that 
after a little while it will ' ecome tight. 

Canvas is also used as a lining to secure water-tightness. Willows 
with the tops left out, so that they may grow, are utilized in embank- 
ments with success. 

In construction over ^'glacier," which is the term used for frozen 
muck mixed with ground ice, the ditch is either built wholly on top 
of the sod covering or an excavation is made and lined with sod. 
Ditches over this material are expensive to maintain, owing to the 
thawing of ice b}^ running water. 

One of the most interesting pieces of construction over glacier is 
the flume on the Miocene ditch. This flume is 1,100 feet long, and 
has a width of 8 feet and a depth of 28 inches. It was constructed 
in 1901, and is now in practically perfect alignment, both horizontal 
and vertical, and no repairs have been necessar}^ on it. In putting 
in the foundation, trenches were dug 3 or 4 feet deep in the frozen 
ground, which was practically all ice. The excavated material was 
covered to protect it from thawing. A sill was laid in the bottom of 
the trench and the uprights fastened to this sill. The excavated 
material was then replaced in the trenches and froze again into the 
original condition. Sod was carefully placed over the trench. The 
uprights were then sawed off to grade and the flume constructed on 
them. 

Inverted siphons are built across deep ravines where their use will 
save expense and reduce loss by seepage. Most of these are of riveted 
steel pipe. Joints are made by lapping the ends from 4 to 6 inches. 
Siphons must be weighted down and protected by rock to prevent 
injury by frost and snow slides. During 1906 two siphons were 
built on the Seward ditch, across Clara and Hobson creeks, using 
continuous wood-stave pipes with steel bands. 

On account of the rapid surface run-off during hard rains, it is 
necessary to have frequent waste gates. The most common waste 
gates consist either of a flume as deep as the bottom of the ditch, 
in which the height of the water is regulated by fiashboards, or of a 
long weir, laid on the ground surface, which will spill the water when 
it reaches a certain level. 

Intakes of ditch consist of a dam or barrier across the stream, 
containing one or more waste gates, and head-gates for regulating the 
flow into the ditch. In order to divert the entire flow of a stream, a 
bed-rock dam must be built to stop the ground flow through the 
gravelly beds. These are made by cutting a trench across the stream 
IRR 196—07 4 



50 WATER SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA 



bed, extending down to an impervious stratum, and filling it with sod, 
which is carefully laid and tamped. The dam should be protected 
from erosion with large flat rocks or riprap. 

Frozen ground, inadequate facilities for transportation, and high 
cost of help^ and supplies make ditching very expensive. To the 
first cost of a ditch should be added the cost of maintenance for the 
first three years, during which time extensive repairs are necessary. 
These in many cases equal the first cost of construction. At the end 
of three years ditches are, as a rule, in fairly permanent condition, 
and the cost of maintenance is greatly reduced. Such information 
as could be obtained shows that the cost of a ditch carrying from 
1,000 to 2,000 inches, including the first three years' maintenance, 
is from $5,000 to $8,000 per mile. Owing to dangers from wash- 
outs and landslides, it is necessary to have the ditch constantly 
patrolled. 

Owing to the frozen condition of the ground, it is not practicable to 
use ditches much before the 1st of July, as the surface does not become 
fully thawed until that time, and during the thawing period the ground 
becomes very soft and there is great danger of damage by washouts. 

The following table gives a list of the principal ditches in this sec- 
tion. The data given are in some cases only approximate, as it was 
necessary to obtain them by inquiry. 

Ditches between Cape Nome and Cape Rodney, Seward Peninsula. 



- 


Extends 


Length. 


Com- 
pleted. 


Bot- 
tom 
width. 


Fall 
per 
mile. 


Ca- 


Elevation. 


Name. 


From— 


To- 


Head 


Out- 
let. 


Miocene Ditch 
Co.: 
Main ditch... 

Feeding lat- 


Nome River . , . 

Hobson Creek. 

The Ex 

Upper Glacier 
Creek. 

Grouse Creek.. 

Upper New El- 
dorado Creek. 

David Creek... 

Jett Creek 

Grand Central 

River. 
The Ex 

Kane ma Gulch, 
Glacisr Creek. 

Nome River 
below Poro- 
thy Creek. 

Crater Lake . . . 

Nugget Divide. 

Pumping plant. 

No. 3, below 

Little Creek. 


Hobson Creek . 

The Ex 

Snow Gulch . . . 
The Ex 

Flnme. . . 


Miles. 
13 
14 

4 

2 

4 

7 

L8 

3.5 

8 

4 
c 1,800 

38 

8 
35 

7 


1903 
1902 
1901 
1901 


Feet. 
8 
10 
8 


Feet. 
4.5 
3.37 
6.5 


Se<\- 

feet. 

40 

55 

55 

6 

4 
6 

14 

10 

80 

16 


572 
500 
445 


500 
445 
420 
445 


erals. 






1 
478 




Sparkle Creek. . 

Nome Riv er 
above main 
intake. 

Nugget Divide. 


1906 
1906 
1904 

1906 

(&) 
(&) 

"1962" 




742 




4 

3.5 
8-10 

6 

d4x7 

10 

.42 

c48 

el8 
4 


6 
^6 

3.3 


590 

806 
850 

445 


.785 
785 


Distributing 

laterals. 
Tunnel 


Grass Gulch... 

New Year 
Gulch, Anvil 
Creek. 

Saturday 
Creek. 

Nugget Divide. 
Anvil Moun- 
tain, 
do 


432 


Wild Goose Min- 
ing and Trad- 
ing Co.: 
Seward 

Pipeline 


3.18 

15 
10 

■'5.' 3" 


32 

60 
70 

6 
6 


408 
963 


274 










Pumping plant. 













a Laborers receive $5 per day and board; blacksmiths, cooks, etc., $6. 
b Under construction. 
c Feet. 



d Cross section. 

e Diameter in inches. 



WATER-POWER POSSIBILITIES. 



51 



Ditches between Cape Nome and Cape Rodney, Seward Peninsula — Continued. 





Extends 




Com- 
pleted. 


Bot- 
tom 
width. 


Fall 
per 
mile. 


Ca- 
pac- 
ity. 


Elevation. 


Name. 


From— 


To- 


Length. 


Head 


Out- 
let. 


Pioneer Mining 
Co.: 




No. 1, belovir 
Anvil Creek. 

Moonlight Res- 
ervoir. 

Little Creek.. . 

Beach 


Miles. 
0.75 

-1.25 

• 38 

6 


1902 
1903 
1906 

1905 
a 1904 


Feet. 
5 

G 

8 

20-15 


Feet. 

7 


Sec- 






Anvil Creek. 


10-12 

3 40 






Anvil Creek. 






United Ditch Co.: 
Sutton 


above Clara 
Creek. 

Penny River. . . 
do 


3.12 


100 

25 
28 
20 

20 
10 

5 
20 
18 

3 
20 
16 


120 
420 

870 
610 


90 


Higliline 


do 


7 4.22 

4-8 4 
6 i 7.5 




Miscellanoous: 

Cedric 

Campion 

Nor thwest- 


Josic Creek 

Buffalo 


Hungry Creek . 

Dorothy Creek. 

Hastings 

Beachline. 

Balto Creek. . . 

Glacier Creek 
opposite 
Snow Gulch. 


19 
4 
18 

12 


1905 
1903 


790 
580 


ern Ditch i 
Co. 

North land O n 1 d h nttoTn 


(a) 






390 




Mining Co. 
Hot \ir 


Creek. 
Divining 

Olaeipr CrppV 


6 
2 5 


1902 














175 
500 
4f30 




Tremper. | 


Snow Gulch. 
Alpha Creek... 10 

Pioneer Gulch.. 4 


(a) 
1903 
1904 
1906 








tain Creek. 








ing Co. Creek. 
Plein No 7 Otter 


Mouth 


1 
on 








Creek. 
F 1 a m 1) e a u Head of Flam- 


Hastings Creek 










Hastings, beau River. 
Capt. Peter- No. .3, below 
son. Anvil. 


Little Creek 9. f, 


_ __ 








10 
4 












Hydraulic 

Mining Co. 

J u r d e n- 

Cummings. 


CrippleRiver. 
Buffalo Creek.. 


Boer Creek.... 


190G 


4 


6 


20 




1,000 





a Under construction. 



WATKK-POWER P08S1BII.I TIES. 



Owing to the great value of water in this section of the country 
for use in the auriferous gravels, but little attention has been given 
to power development. There are, however, a large number of 
excellent power sites on various portions of the peninsula whose 
development is feasible, both from an engineering and a financial 
standpoint. 

The scarcity of fuel makes steam power very expensive, and it is 
probable that much of the future mining, especiall}^ along the tundra 
back of Nome and along the larger streams, will be carried on by 
dredging or by some form of elevating in which power will play an 
important part. With this in view the attention of mining men should 
be directed to the consideration of power possibilities. Among those 
which were observed are the Salmon Lake development, which has been 
started; the development at Nugget Divide, by bringing over the water 
from Grand Central River; the developments at Divide Creek and Gold 
Bottom Creek, possible in connection with the diversion of the Sinuk 



52 WATER SUPPLY OF NOME REGION, SEWARD PENINSULA. 

water; the Glacier Lake power, and many other powers in the streams 
of the Kigluaik Mountains, notably on the glacier-fed torrents on 
their northerly slope. (See p. 38.) 

:notes for investors. 

Present information shows that the total water supply available 
for use in the vicinity of Nome, and probably in other parts of 
Alaska, is limited. Caution, therefore, should be used in extensive 
hydraulic developments. 

There is a great tendency in that country to push forward con- 
struction and the installation of expensive machinery before making 
a preliminary investigation to determine the feasibility of the project 
from an engineering and from a financial standpoint. A large por- 
tion of the ditch and other hydraulic work already constructed in 
this section has been a failure from the first, both on account of insuf- 
ficient water supply and the lack of mineral ground on which to use 
the supply if it were available, and also in many cases from inefficient 
construction. 

Furthermore, there is a great tendency for individuals and com- 
panies to undertake the construction and installation of expensive 
plants without employing the services of an engineer. This has 
resulted in total or partial failure, due both to the excessive cost and 
the inefficiency of the plant, where a successful development should 
have been made. 

The cost of useless machinery, ditches, etc., which are to be seen 
almost everywhere in this section of the country, amounts to hun- 
dreds of thousands of dollars. This condition and the tendency for 
immature development should be noted by all who are looking toward 
this region for investment, and investments should be preceded by a 
thorough investigation by competent engineers. 



CLASSIFICATION OF THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL 

SURVEY. 

[Water-Supply Paper No, 196.] 

The serial publications of the United States Geological Survey consist of (1) Annual 
Reports, (2) Monographs, (3) Professional Papers, (4) Bulletins, (5) Mineral 
Resources, (6) Water-Supply and Irrigation Papers, (7) Topographic Atlas of United 
States — folios and separate sheets thereof, (8) Geologic Atlas of the United States — 
folios thereof. The classes numbered 2, 7, and 8 are sold at cost of publication; the 
others are distributed free. A circular giving complete lists can be had on application. 

Most of the above publications can be obtained or consulted in the following ways: 

1. A limited number are delivered to the Director of the Survey, from whom they 
can be obtained, free of charge (except classes 2, 7, and 8), on application. 

2. A certain number are delivered to Senators and Representatives in Congress 
for distribution. 

3. Other copies are deposited with the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, 
D. C, from whom they can be had at prices slightly above cost. 

4. Copies of all Government publications are furnished to the principal public 
libraries in the large cities throughout the United States, where they can be con- 
sulted by those interested. 

The Professional Papers, Bulletins, and Water-Supply Papers treat of a variety of 
subjects, and the total number issued is large. They have therefore been classified 
into the following series: A, Economic geology; B, Descriptive geology; C, System- 
atic geology and paleontology; D, Petrography and mineralogy; E, Chemistry and 
physics; F, Geography; G, Miscellaneous; H, Forestry; I, Irrigation; J, Water stor- 
age; K, Pumping water; L, Quality of water; M, General hydrographic investiga- 
tions; N, Water power; O, Underground waters; P, Hydrographic progress reports. 
This paper is the twenty-first in Series M, the complete list of which follows 
(WS=: Water-supply Paper): 

SERIES M— GENERAL HYDROGRAPHIC 'INVESTIGATIONS. 

WS 56. Method.s of stream measurement. 1901. 51 pp., 12 pis. 

WS 64. Accuracy of stream measurements, by E. C. Murphy. 1902. 99 pp., 4 pis. 

WS 76. Observations on the flow of rivers in the vicinity of New York City, by H. A. Pressey. 1902. 

108 pp., 13 pis. 
WS 80. The relation of rainfall to run-off, by G. W. Rafter. 1903. 104 pp. 
WS 81. California hydrography, by J. B. Lippincott. 1903. 488 pp., 1 pi. 
WS 88. The Passaic flood of 1902, by G. B. Hollister and M. O. Leighton. 1903. 56 pp., 15 pis. 
WS 91. Natural features and economic development of the Sandusky, Maumee, Muskingum, and 

Miami drainage areas in Ohio, by B. H. Flynn and M. S. Flynn. 1904. 130 pp. 
WS 92. The Passaic flood of 1903, by M. O. Leighton. 1904. 48 pp., 7 pis. 
WS 94. Hydrographic manual of the United States Geological Survey, prepared by E. ('. Murphy, 

J. C. Hoyt, and G. B. Hollister. 1904. 76 pp., 3 pis. 
WS 95. Accuracy of stream measurements (second edition), by E. C. Murphy. 1904. 169 pp., 6 pis. 
WS 96. Destructive floods in the United States in 1903, by E. C. Murphy. 1904. 81 pp., 13 pis. 
WS 106. Water resources of the Philadelphia district, by Florence Bascom. 1904. 75 pp., 4 pis. 
W'S 109. Hydrography of the Susquehanna River drainage ba.sin, by J. C. Hoyt and R. H. Anderson. 

1904. 215 pp., 28 pis. 

I 



IT SERIES LIST. 

WS 116. Water resources near Santa Barbara, California, by J. B, Lippincott. 1904. 99 pp., 8 pis. 
WS 147. Destructive floods in the United States in 1904, by E. C. Murphy and others, 1905." 206 pp., 

18 pis. 
WS 150. Weir experiments, coefficients, and formulas, by K. E. Horton. 1906. 189 pp., 38 pis. (Out 

of stock.) 
WS 1G2. Destructive floods in the United States in 1905, by E. C. Murphy and others. 1906, 105 pp., 

4 pis. 
WS 180. Turbine water-wheel tests and power tables, by Robert E. Horton. 1906. 134 pp., 2 pis. (Out 

of stock. ) 
WS 187. Determination of stream flow during the frozen season, by H. K. Barrows and Robert E. • 

Horton. 1907. 93 pp., 1 pi. i 

WS 192. The Potomac River basin: Geographic history — rainfall and stream flow — pollution, typhoid 

fever, and character of water— relation of soils and forest cover to quality and quantity of 

surface water— effect of industrial wastes on fishes, by H. N. Parker, Bailey Willis, R. H. 

Bolster, W. W. Ashe, and M. C. March. 1907. — pp., 10 pis. 
WS 196. Water supply of Nome region, Seward Peninsula, Alaska, 1906, by J. C. Hoyt and F. F. Hen- 

shaw. 1907. 52 pp., 6 pis. " 

Correspondence thould be addressed to 

The Director, 

United States Geological Survey, 

Washington, D. C. 
March, 1907. 



GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PUBLICATIONS ON ALASKA. 

189L 

Russell, I. C. Account of an expedition to the Yukon Valley in 1889. In Eleventh 
Ann. Kept., pt. 1, 1891, pp. 57-58. Extract from Professor Russell's com- 
plete report in Bull. Geol. Soc. America, vol. 1, 1890, pp. 99-162. (Out of 
stock. ) 

Account of an expedition to the vicinity of Mount St. Eliasinl890. In 

Twelfth Ann. Rept., pt. 1, 1891, pp. 59-61. A full report of this expedi- 
tion was published in Nat. Geog. Mag., vol. 3, 1892, pp. 53-203. (Out of 
stock.) 

1892. 

Dall, W. H., and Harris, G. D. Summarv of knowledge of Neocene geology of 
Alaska. In correlation Papers— Neocene: Bull. No. 84, 1892, pp. 232-268. 

Hayes, C. AV. Account of expedition through the Yukon district. In Thirteenth 
Ann. Rept., pt. 1, 1892, pp. 91-94, A complete report was published in 
Nat. Geog. Mag., vol. 4, 1892, pp. 117-162. (Out of stock.) 

1893. 

Russell, I. C. Second expedition to Mount St. Elias in 1891. In Thirteenth Ann. 
Rept., pt. 2, 1893, pp. 1-91. (Out of stock.) 

1896. 

Dall, W. H. Report on coal and lignite of Alaska In Seventeenth Ann. Rept., 

pt. 1, 1896, pp. 763-906. (Out of stock.) 
Reid, H. F. Glacier Bay and its glaciers. In Sixteenth Ann. Rept., pt. 1, 1896, 

pp. 415-461. (Out of stock.) 
Walcott, C. D., Director. Account of an investigation of the gold and coal deposits 

of southern Alaska. In Seventeenth Ann. Rept., pt. 1, 1896, pp. 56-59. 

(Out of stock.) 

1897. 

Walcott, C. D., Director. Account of a reconnaissance of the gold district of the 
Yukon region. In Eighteenth Ann. Rept., pt. 1, 1897, pp. 52-54. 

1898. 

Becker, G. F. Reconnaissance of the gold fields of southern Alaska, with some 
notes on general geology. In Eighteenth Ann. Rept., pt. 3, 1898, pp. 1-86. 

Spurr, J. E., and Goodrich, H. B. Geology of the Yukon gold district, Alaska, by 
Josiah Edward Spurr; with an introductory chapter on the history and con- 
dition of the district to 1897, by Harold Beach Goodrich. In Eighteenth 
Ann. Rept., pt. 3, 1898, pp. 87-392. 

Walcott, C. D., Director. Account of operations in Alaska in 1898. In Nineteenth 
Ann. Rept., pt. 1, 1898, pp. 20, 53, 116-117. (Out of stock.) 

Map of Alaska, showing known gold-bearing rocks, with descriptive text containing 
sketches of the geography, geology, and gold deposits and routes to -the 
gold fields. Prepared in accordance with Public Resolution No. 3 of the 
Fifty-fifth Congress, second session, approved January 20, 1898. Printed 
in the engraving and printing division of the United States Geological Sur- 
vey, Washington, D. C, 1898. 44 pp., 1 map. A special pubhcation. 
The data were brought together by S. F. Emmons, aided by W. H. Dall 
and F. C. Schrader. (Out of stock. ) 

1899. 

Walcott, C. D., Director. Account of operations in Alaska in 1898. In Tw'entieth 
Ann. Rept., pt. 1, 1899, pp. 12, 52-53, 97, 126-134. (Out of stock.) 

Maps and descriptions of routes of exploration in Alaska in 1898, with general infor- 
mation concerning the Territory. (Ten maps in accompanying envelope. ) 
Prepared in accordance with Public Resolution No. 25 of' the Fifty-fifth 
Congress, third session, approved March 1, 1899. Printed in the engrav- 
ing and printing division of the United States Geological Survey, Wash- 
ington, D. C, 1899. 138 pp., 10 maps in accompanying envelope. A 
special publication. Contributors: G. H. Eldridge, Robert ^Nluldrow, 
J. E. Spurr, W. S. Post, W. C. Mendenhall, F. C. Schrader, W.J. Peters, 
A. H. Brooks, and E. C. Barnard. (Out of stock. ) 

III 



IV PUBLICATIONS ON ALASKA. 

1900. 

Baker, Marcus. Alaskan geographic names. In Twenty-first Ann. Rept., pt. 2, 
1900, pp. 487-509. 

Brooks, A. H. A reconnaissance from Pyramid Harbor to Eagle City, Alaska, 
including a description of the copper deposits of the upper White and 
Tanana rivers. In Twenty-first Ann. Kept., pt. 2, 1900, pp. 331-391. 

A reconnaissance in the Tanana and White River basins, Alaska, in 1898. 

In Twentieth Ann. Rept., pt. 7, 1900, pp. 425-494. (Out of stock. ) 

Eldrijdge, G. H. a reconnaissance in the Sushitna basin and adjacent territory, 
Alaska, in 1898. In Twentieth Ann. Rept., pt. 7, 1900, pp. 1-29. 

Gannett, Henry. Altitudes in Alaska. Bull. No. 169, 1900, 13 pp. 

Mendenhall, W. C. a reconnaissance from Resurrection Bay to the Tanana River, 
Alaska, in 1898. In Twentieth Ann. Rept., pt. 7, 1900, pp. 265-340. 

RoHN, Oscar. A reconnaissance of the Chitina River and the Skolai Mountains, 
Alaska. In Twenty-first Ann. Rept., pt. 2, 1900, pp. 303-340. (Outof stock.) 

Schrader, F. C. a reconnaissance of a part of Prince William Sound and the Cop- 
per River district, Alaska, in 1898. In Twentieth Ann. Rept., pt. 7, 1900, 
pp. 341-423. (Out of stock. ) 

Preliminary report on a reconnaissance along the Chandlar and Koyukuk 

rivers, Alaska, in 1899. In Twenty-first Ann. Rept., pt. 2, 1900, pp. 441-486. 

and Brooks, A. H. Preliminary report on the Cape Nome gold region, 

Alaska, with maps and illustrations. Washington, Government Printing 

Office, 1900. 56 pp., 3 maps, and 19 pis. A special publication. 
Spurr, J. E. A reconnaissance in southwestern Alaska in 1898. In Twentieth Ann. 

Rept., pt. 7, 1900, pp. 31-264. 
Walcott, C. D., Director. Account of operations in Alaska in 1899. In Twenty-first 

Ann. Rept, pt. ], 1900, pp. 17-18, 86, 145-149. 

1901. 

Brooks, A. H. An occurrence of stream tin in the York region, Alaska. In Min- 
eral Resources of the U. S. for 1900, 1901, pp. 267-271. Published also as 
a separate. Washington, Government Printing Office, 1901, cover and 
pp. 1-5. 

The coal resources of Alaska. In Twenty-second Ann. Rept., pt. 3, 1901, 

pp. 515-571. 

, Richardson, G. B., and Collier, A. J. A reconnaissance of the Cape Nome 

and adjacent gold fields of Seward Peninsula, Alaska, in 1900. In a special 
publication entitled " Reconnaissances in the Cape Nome and Norton Bay 
regions, Alaska, in 1900." Washington, Government Printing Office, 1901, 
pp. 1-180. 

Mendenhall, W. C. A reconnaissance in the Norton Bay region, Alaska, in 1900. 
In a special publication entitled "Reconnaissances in the Cape Nome and 
Norton Bay regions, Alaska, in 1900." Washington, Government Printing 
Office, 1901, pp. 181-218. 

Schrader, F. C, and Spencer, A. C. The geology and mineral resources of a por- 
tion of the Copper River district, Alaska. A special publication. Wash- 
ington, Government Printing Office, 1901, pp. 1-94. 

Walcott, C. D. , Director. Account of operations in Alaska in 1900. In Twenty-second 
Ann. Rept., pt. 1, 1901, pp, 35, 95-99, 144, 166-170. 

1902. 

Brooks, A. H, Preliminary report on the Ketchikan mining district, Alaska, with 
an introductory sketch of the geology of southeastern Alaska. Prof. 
Paper No. 1, 1902, pp. 1-120. 

Collier, A, J. A reconnaissance of the northwestern portion of Seward Peninsula, 
Alaska. Prof. Paper No. 2, 1902, pp. 1-70. 

Mendenhall, W. C. A reconnaissance from Fort Hamlin to Kotzebue Sound, 
Alaska, by way of Dall, Kanuti, Allen, and Kowak rivers. Prof. Paper 
No. 10, 1902, pp. 1-68. 

Walcott, C. D., Director. Account of operations in Alaska in 1901. In Twenty- 
third Ann. Rept., 1902, pp. 20, 21, 57, 71-82, 161. 

1903. 

Baker, Marcus. Geographic dictionary of Alaska. Bull. No. 187, 1902, pp. 1-446. 
Brooks, A. H. Placer gold mining in Alaska in 1902. In Bull. No. 213, 1903, pp. 
41-48. (Outof stock.) 

Stream tin in Alaska. In Bull. No. 213, 1903, pp. 92-93. (Out of stock.) 



PUBLICATIONS ON ALA8KA. V 

Collier A. J. Coal resources of the Yukon basin, Alaska. In Bull. No. 21.3, 1903, 
pp. 276-283. (Out of stock.) 

The coal resources of the Yukon, Alaska. Bull. No. 218, 1903, pp. 1-71. 

The Glenn Creek gold mining district, Alaska. In Bull. No. 213, 1903, pp. 

49-56. (Out of stock.) 
Mendexhall, W. C. The Chistochina gold field, Alaska. In Bull. No. 213, 1903, 

pp. 71-75. (Out of stock.) 
and ScHRADER, F. C. Copper deposits of Mount Wrangell region, Alaska. 

In Bull. No. 213, 1903, pp. 141-148. (Out of stock.) 

The mineral resources of the Mount Wrangell district, Alaska. Prof. Paper 

No. 15, 1903, pp. 1-71. 
Walcott, C. D., Director. Account of operations in Alaska in 1902. In Twenty- 
fourth Ann. Kept., 1903, pp. 78-107, 167, 256. 

1904. 

Brooks, A. H. Placer gold mining in Alaska in 1903. In Bull. No. 225, 1904, pp. 

43-59. 
Collier, A. J. Tin deposits of the York region, Alaska. In Bull. No. 225, 1904, 

pp. 154-167. 

Tin deposits of the York region, Alaska. Bull. No. 229. 

Martin, G. C. Petroleum fields of Alaska and the Bering River coal field. In Bull. 

No. 225, 1904, pp. 365-382. 
Moffit, F. H. The Kotzebue placer gold field of Seward Peninsula, Alaska. In 

Bull. No. 225, 1904, pp. 74-80. 
Prindle, L. M. Gold placers of the Fairbanks district, Alaska. In Bull. No. 225, 

1904, pp. 64-73. 
Schrader, F. C., and Peters, W. J. A reconnaissance in northern Alaska, across 

the Rocky Mountains, along the Koyukuk, John, Anaktuvuk, and Col- 

ville rivers, and the Arctic coast to Cape Lisburne, in 1901. Prof. Paper 

No. 20, 1904, pp. 1-139. 
Spencer, A. C. The Juneau gold belt, Alaska. In Bull. No. 225, 1904, pp. 28-42. 
Walcott, C. I)., Director. Account of operations in Alaska in 1903-4. In Twentv- 

fifth Ann. Rept. U. S. Geol. Survey, 1904, pp. 68-85, 346, 348, 352, 354.' 
Wright, C. W. The Porcupine placer mining district, Alaska. In Bull. No. 225, 

1904, pp. 60-63. 

The Porcupine placer district, Alaska. Bull. No. 236, 1904, pp. 1-35. 

1905. 

Brooks, A. H. Administrative report. In Report on progress of investigations of 
mineral resources of Alaska in 1904: Bull. II. S. Geol. Survey No. 259, 1905, 
pp. 13-17. 

Placer mining in Alaska in 1904. In Bull. No. 259, 1905, pp. 18-31. 

Collier, A. J. Gold fields of the Cape Lisburne region. In Bull. No. 259, 1905, pp. 

172-185. 

Gold mine on Unalaska Island. In Bull. No. 259, 1905, pp. 102-103. 

Recent developments of Alaskan tin deposits. In Bull. No. 259, 1905, pp. 

120-127. 
Martin, G. C. Bering River coal field. In Bull. No. 259, 1905, pp. 140-150. 

Cape Yaktag placers. In Bull. No. 259, 1905, pp. 88-89. 

Gold deposits of the Shumagin Islands. In Bull. No. 259, 1905, pp. 100-101. 

Notes on the petroleum fields of Alaska. In Bull. No. 259, 1905, pp. 128-139. 

The petroleum fields of the Pacific coast of Alaska, with an account of the 

Bering River coal deposits. Bull. No. 250, 1905, pp. 1-64. 
Mendenhall, W. C. Geologv of the central Copper River region, Alaska. Prof. 

Paper No. 41, 1905,'pp. 1-133. 
Moffit, F. H. Gold placers of Turnagain Arm, Cook Inlet. In Bull. No. 259, 1905, 

pp. 90-99. 

The Fairhaven gold placers of Seward Peninsula. Bull. No. 247, pp. 1-85. 

Prindle, L. M. The gold placers of the Fortvmile, Birch Creek, and Fairbanks 

regions. Bull. No. 251, 1905, pp. 1-89. 

and Hess, F. L. Rampart placer region. In Bull. No. 259, 1905, pp. 104- 

119. 
Purington, C. W. Methods and costs of gravel and placer mining in Alaska. Bull. 

No. 263, 1905, pp. 1-362. Also in Bull. No. 259, 1905, pp. 32-46. 
Spencer, A. C. The Tread well ore deposits. In Bull. No. 259, 1905, pp. 69-87. 
Stone, R. W. Resources of southwestern Alaska. In Bull. No. 259, 1905, pp. 

151-171. 



VI PUBLICATIONS ON ALASKA. 

Walcott, C. D., Director. Account of operations in Alaska in 1904. In Twenty- 
sixth Ann. Kept., 1905, pp. 73-80. 

Wright. F. E. and C. W. Economic developments in southeastern Alaska. In 
Bull. No. 259, 1905, pp. 47-68. 

1906. 

Baker, M., and McCormick, J. C. Geographic dictionary of Alaska, second edition. 
Bull. No. 299, 1906, 690 pp. * • 

Brooks, A. H. The geography and geology of Alaska, a summary of existing knowl- 
edge, with a section on climate, by Cleveland Abbe, jr., and a topographic 
map and description thereof, by R. U. Goode. Prof. Paper No. 45, 1906, 
pp. 1-327. 

The mining industry in 1905. In Bull. No. 284, 1906, pp. 4-9. 

Railway routes. In Bull. No. 284, 1906, pp. 10-17. 

Collier, A. J. Geology and coal resources of Cape Lisburne region, Alaska. Bull. 

No. 278, 1906, pp. 1-54. 
Grant, U.S. Copper and other mineral resources of Prince William Sound. In Bull. 

No. 284, 1906, pp. 78-87. 
Hess, F. L. The York tin region. In Bull. No. 284, 1906, pp. 145-157. 
Martin, G. C. Markets for Alaska coal. In Bull. No. 284, 1906, pp. 18-27. 

Distribution and character of the Bering River coal. In Bull. No. 284, 1906, 

pp. 65-76. 

Preliminary statement on the Matanuska coal field. In Bull. No. 284, 1906, 

pp. 88-100. 

Reconnaissance of the Matanuska coal field, Alaska, in 1905. Bull. No. 289, 

1906, pp. 1-36. 
MoFPiT, F. H., and Stone, R. W. Mineral resources of the Kenai Peninsula; Gold 

fields of the Turnagain Arm region, by F. H. Moffit, pp. 1-52; Coal fields 

of the Kachemak Bay region, by R. W. Stone, pp. 53-73. In Bull. No. 

277, pp. 1-80. 
Moffit, F. H. Gold mining on Seward Peninsula. In Bull. No. 284, pp. 132-141. 
Paige, Sidney. The Herendeen Bay coal field. In Bull. No. 284, pp. 101-108. 
Prindle, L. M., and Hess, F. L. The Rampart gold placer region, Alaska. Bull. 

No. 280, pp. 1-54. 
Prindle, L. M. Yukon placer fields. In Bull. No. 284, pp. 109-127. 

The Yukon-Tanana region, Alaska; description of Circle quadrangle. Bull. 

No. 295, 27 pp. 1 pi. 
Spencer, A. C, and Wright, C. W. The Juneau gold belt, Alaska, by A. C. Spencer, 

pp. 1-137; and a Reconnaissance of Admiralty Island, Alaska, by C. W. 

Wright, pp. 138-154. In Bull. No. 287, 1906, pp. 1-161. 
Stone, R. W. Reconnaissance from Circle to Fort Hamlin. In Bull. No. 284, pp. 

128—131 
Tarr, R. S. The Yakutat Bay region. In Bull. No. 284, pp. 61-64. 
Wright, C. W. Nonmetallic deposits of southeastern Alaska. In Bull. No. 284, 

pp. 55-60. 
Wright, F. E. and C. W. Lode mining in southeastern Alaska. In Bull. 'No. 284, 

pp. 30-53. 

1907. 

Hoyt, J. C, and Henshaw, F. F. Water-supplv of Nome region, Seward Peninsula, 
Alaska. Water-Supply Paper No. 196, 1907, pp. 1-52. 

Papers on Alaska in Preparation. 

Brooks, A. H., and Prindle, L. M. An exploration in the Mount McKinley region. 
Collier, A. J., Hess, F. L., and Brooks, A. H. The gold placers of a part of the 

Seward Peninsula, Alaska. 
Wright, F. E. and C. W. Mineral resources of the Wrangell and Ketchikan mining 

districts, Alaska. 
Moffit, F. H., Hess, F. L., and Smith, P. S. Geology of thearea represented on the 

Nome and Grand Central Special maps. 
Paige, S., and Knopf, A. Geology of the Matanuska and Talkeetna basins. 
Prindle, L. M. The Yukon-Tanana region, Alaska; description of the Fairbanks 

and Rampart quadrangles. 
Grant, U. S. The geology and mineral resources of the Prince William Sound 

region. 
Tarr, R. S. Geologic reconnaissance of the Yakutat Bay region. 



PUBLICATIONS ON ALASKA. VII 

Topographic Maps of Alaska. 

The following maps are for sale at 5 cents a copy, or $3 per hundred: 

Casadepaga Special, Seward Peninsula; scale, 1:62500. T. G. Gerdine. 

Fortymile quadrangle; scale, 1:250000. E. C. Barnard. 

Grand Central Special, Seward Peninsula; scale, 1:62500. T. G. Gerdine. 

Juneau Special quadrangle; scale, 1:62500. W. J. Peters. 

Nome Special, Seward Peninsula; scale, 1:62500. T. G. Gerdine. 

Solomon Special, Seward Peninsula; scale, 1:62500. T. G. Gerdine. 
The following maps are included as illustrations of published reports, but have not 

been issued separately. They can be obtained only by securing the report. 

Alaska, topographic map of; scale, 1:2500000. Preliminary edition. Contained in 
"The geography and geology of Alaska, a summary of existing knowledge, etc." 
Prof. Paper No. 45. R. U. Goode. 

Cape Nome and adjacent gold fields; scale, 1 : 250000. Contained in a special publica- 
tion of the United States (Tcological Survey, entitled "Reconnaissances in the 
Cape Nome and Norton Bav regions, Alaska," 1900. Washington. Govern- 
ment Printing Office, 1901. 'E. C. Barnard. 

Chitina and lower Copper River region ; scale, 1 : 250000. Contained in a special pub- 
lication of the United States Geological Survey, entitled "The geology and min- 
eral resources of a portion of the Copper River district, Alaska." Washington. 
Government Printing Office, 1901. T. G. Gerdine and D. C. Witherspoon. 

Circle quadrangle, Yukon-Tanana region ; scale, 1 : 250000. Contained in ' ' The Yukon- 
Tanana region, Alaska; description of Circle quadrangle." Bull. No. 295. 
D. C. Witherspoon. 

Cook Inlet, head of, to the Tanana via Matanuska and Delta rivers, also part of 
Kenai Peninsula; scale, 1 : 625000. Contained in "A reconnaissance from Resur- 
rection Bav to Tanana River, Alaska, in 1898." Twentieth Ann. Rept., pt. 7, 
1900, pp. 265-340. W. C. Mendenhall. 

Cook Inlet, region from head" of, to Kuskokwim River and down the Kuskokwim to 
Bering Sea, Bristol Bay, and a part of Alaska Peninsula; scale, 1 : 625000. Pub- 
lished in sections in "A reconnaissance in southwestern Alaska, in 1898." 
Twentieth Ann. Rept., pt. 7, 1900, pp. 31-264. W. S. Post. 

Cook Inlet placer fields; scale 1 : 250000. Contained in " Mineral Resources of Kenai 
Peninsula, Alaska." Bull. No. 277. E. G. Hamilton. 

Copper and upper Chistochina rivers; scale, 1:250000. Contained in "Geology of 
the central Copper River region, Alaska." Prof. Paper No. 41. T. G. Gerdine. 

Copper, Nabesna, and Chisana rivers, headwaters of; scale, 1 : 250000. Contained 
in "Geology of the central Copper River region, Alaska." Prof. Paper No. 41. 
D, C. Witherspoon. 

Copper River region; scale, 1:376000. Contained in "A reconnaissance of a part 
of Prince William Sound and the Copper River district, Alaska, in 1898." 
Twentieth Ann. Rept., pt. 7, 1900, pp. 341-423. P. G. Lowe, Emil Mahlo, and 
F. C. Schrader. (Out of stock.) 

Fairbanks and Birch Creek districts, reconnaissance maps of ; scale, 1:250000. Con- 
tained in "The gold placers of the Fortymile, Birch Creek, and Fairbanks 
regions." Bull. No. 251, 1905. T. G. Gerdine. 

Fort Yukon to Kotzebue Sound, reconnaissance map of; scale, 1:625000. Contained 
in "Reconnaissance from Fort Hamlin to Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, bv wav of 
Dall, Kanuti, Allen, and Kowak rivers." Prof. Paper No. 10, 1902^ D.' L. 
Reaburn. 

Koyukuk River to mouth of Colville River, including John River; scale, 1:625000. 
Contained in "A reconnaissance in northern Alaska across the Rocky Mountains, 
along Koyukuk, John, Anaktuvuk, and Colville rivers, and the Arctic coast to 
Cape Lisburne, in 1901." Prof. Paper No. 20. W. J. Peters. 

Koyukuk and Chandlar rivers, portions of; scale, 1:625000. Contained in "Prelim- 
inary report of a reconnaissance along the Chandlar and Kovukuk rivers, 
Alaska, in 1899." Twenty-first Ann. Rept., pt. 2, 1900. T. G. Gerdine. 

Lynn canal, routes from, via headwaters of White and Tanana rivers to Eagle City; 
scale, 1:625000. Contained in "A reconnaissance from Pyramid Harbor to 
Eagle City, Alaska." Twenty-first Ann. Rept., pt. 2, 1900, pp. 331-391. W. J. 
Peters. 

Mount McKinley region; scale, 1:625000. Contained in "The geography and geol- 
ogy of Alaska, a summary (?f existing knowledge, etc." Prof. Paper No. 45. 
D. L. Reaburn. 



VIII PUBLICATIONS ON ALASKA. 

Norton Bay region ; scale, 1 : 625000. Contained in a special publication of the United 
States Geological Survey, entitled ' ' Eeconnaissances in the Cape Nome and Nor- 
ton Bay regions, Alaska, in 1900." Washington. Government Printing OflSce, 
1901. W. J. Peters. 

Porcupine placer region; scale, 1 inch =3^ miles. Contained in "The Porcupine 
placer district, Alaska." Bull. No. 236. C. W. Wright. 

Prince William Sound, sketch map of; scale 1:376000. Contained in a special pub- 
lication of the United States Geological Survey, entitled "The geology and min- 
eral resources of a portion of the Copper River district, Alaska," Washington. 
Government Printing Office, 1901. Emil Mahlo and F. C. Schrader. 

Seward Peninsula, northeastern portion of, topographic reconnaissance of; scale, 
1:250000. Contained in "The Fairhaven gold placers, Seward Peninsula, 
Alaska." Bull. No. 247, 1905. D. C. Witherspoon. 

Seward Peninsula, northwestern part of; scale, 1:250000. Contained in "A recon- 
naissance of the northwestern portion of Seward Peninsula, Alaska." Prof. 
Paper No. 2, 1902. T. G. Gerdine. 

Sushitna River and adjacent territory; scale, 1:625000. Contained in "A recon- 
naissance in the Sushitna basin and adjacent territory, Alaska, in 1898." 
Twentieth Ann. Rept., pt. 7, 1900, pp. 1-.29. Robert Muldrow. 

Tanana and White rivers, portions of; scale, 1:625000. Contained in "A recon- 
naissance in the Tanana and White River basins, Alaska, in 1898." Twentieth 
Ann. Rept., pt. 7, 1900, pp. 425-494. W. J. Peters. 

York region; scale, 1:250000. Contained in "The tin deposits of the York region, 
Alaska." Bull. No. 229. T. G. Gerdine. 

York and Kugruk regions, sketch maps of. Contained in a special publication 
of the United States Geological Survey, entitled " Reconnaissances in Cape Nome 
and Norton Bay regions, Alaska, in 1900." Washington. Government Printing 
Office, 1901. A. H. Brooks. 

Yukon-Tanana region, reconnaissance map of; scale, 1:625000. Contained in "The 
gold placers of the Fortymile, Birch Creek, and Fairbanks regions, Alaska. ' ' Bull. 
No. 251. T. G. Gerdine. 

Topographic Maps of Alaska in Preparation. 

Bern er's Bay Special; scale, 1:62500. R. B. Oliver. 
Controller Bay region Special; scale, 1:62500. E. G. Hamilton. 
Fairbanks quadrangle; scale, 1:250000. D. C. Witherspoon. 
Rampart quadrangle; scale, 1:250000. D. C. Witherspoon. 

Reconnaissance map of Matanuska River region; scale, 1:250000. T. G. Gerdine 
and R. H. Sargent. 

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